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1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

CHICOKA 


A  \  1) 


OTHER    REGIONS 


fiF   TirK 


CONQUERORS  AND  THE  CONQUERED. 


BY 


Mils.  MAllY  II.  EASTMAN 


PII  I  1,  A  1)  ELPHI  A: 
LIPPINCOTT,    GRAM  BO,    AND    C 

1854. 


0, 


"':      »*' 


L. 


Kntcrc.J  according  to  tlio  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  ycnr  1M4,  hy 

LirPINCOTT,  GRAMBO,  AND  CO., 

in  the  Office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  in  nnd  for  the 
Knstern  District  of  Pcnnsjlvnnia. 


lit 


\ 


\ 


S.^:i;»WM!VJ..jl^.^'^IB.ii.j.JL_Tti;;i;MiJj....,tfB.-m 


PREFACE. 


These  sketches  are  intended  to  illustrate  a  portion  of  the  carlj  history 
of  North  America,  and  to  exhibit  some  features  in  the  character  of  its 
aboriginal  inhabitants.     Such  parts  as  present  an  account  of  the  successive 
arrivals  of  the  Europeans,  their  attempts  to  settle  and  subjugate  the  widely 
different  territory  now  covered  by  the  Union,  are  written  from  the  earliest 
chronicles,  made  more  clear  by  the  light  that  has  fallen  upon  them,  in  some 
strength,  from  the  observation  of  modern  travelers.     Those  portions  which 
treat  of  Minnesota  and  its  native  people,  are  drawn  from  gatherings  made 
by  the  writer  in  a  number  of  years  passed  amidst  the  remarkable  scenery 
of  that  country,  among  the  cabins,  aided  by  a  knowledge  of  the  language 
of  the  tribes. 

The  title  of  the  book  is  taken  from  a  name  that  divided  for  a  time 
with  -  Florida"  an  unknown  extent  of  territory,  which  may  be  considered  to 
have  had  its  confines  near  those  that  at  present  bound  the  United  States. 
Two  years  earlier,  A^nieM  was  heard  of,  for  a  short  time,  as  being  situated 
along  the  coast  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico;  but  to  CMcora,  a  region  of  country 
on  the  shores  of  the  Savannah  Eiver,  there  was  no  certain  limit  on 
the  north  until  about  the  year  1585,  when  it  was  fixed  by  the  reputation 
of  the  dominion  of  Wlngina,  the  chief,  whose  name  may  have  suggested 
that  borne  by  the  colony  which  afterwards  became  a  great  State  of  the 
Confederacy. 


15i>OQ4 


IV 


P  n  E  F  A  C  E . 


Thus,  thoso  names  arose  iroin  separate  lauds;  and,  seemingly,  from  the 
languages  of  as  different  people  —  the  Shawnee,  the  Chahta,  and  the 
Lendpe— nations  whose  acts,  for  about  two  hundred  years,  were  intimately 
connected  in  the  colonial  conflicts  of  as  many  powers  of  Europe,  and  whose 
posterity,  in  broken  bands,  removed  from  their  ancient  seats,  have  their 
abode  in  the  heart  of  this  continent. 

Cibola,  to  the  westward,  the  country  of  an  indigenous  civilization,  lying 
on  the  margins  of  the  River  Grande  and  the  Gila,  and  over  the  region 
between  them,  came,  after  the  year  1542,  to  have  a  name  apart  from  the 
rest,  a  permanent  place  in  the  geography  of  the  earth,  and  a  romantic 
interest  as  the  Province  of  the  Seven  Cities. 


Wasiiinoton,  D.  C. 
August  9,  1854. 


C  0  N  T  E  N  T  S . 


IIKS 


IPrefnco 

List  of  Jlliistration.s 
■Va«(iiicz  tie  Ayllon 

i  Valley  of  tlio  Suiiit  Peter's 
AVlniiebu},'o  Wigwams  . 

[TIic  Sun  fulls  into  the  Water 

1  Saint  Anliiony's  Falls 

ilnterview  of  Mnssa.soit  with  the  I'ilg 

■Pueblo  of  Lagnna 

|The  Game  of  Plum-stones 

Sltinning  the  Buffalo    . 
iThe  Scalp  Dniico 
lEstufas 

[llunting  the  Uullalo  in  Winlei 
t  Fort  Mackinaw 
'  Michilimuckinac 
I  Ball  Play  on  the  Prairie 

Navajo  Wigwams 
[Combat  between  the  Ojibwas  and  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  on 
Ilnterview  of  Hendrick  Hudson  with  the  Indians 
[Indians  offering  food  to  the  Dead 
I  Pueblo  of  Zuiii,  Xew  Mexico 

Buffalo  Chase  . 


Lake  Superior 


rAOK 

iii 

V 

9 
15 
19 
26 
31 
35 
41 
49 
53 
57 
61 
(57 
71 
79 
85 
89 
97 

103 

107 

113 

123 


'  Mi' "  ■ 


J*^ 


i! 


K 


jjmitMtm 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTIUTIONS. 


PI.ATR 
[. 
II. 
III. 
IV. 

V. 
VI. 
VII. 
VIII. 
IX. 
X. 
XI. 
XII. 
XIII. 
XIV. 
XV 
XVI. 
I XVII. 
CVIII. 
XIX. 
XX. 
XXI. 


Hk  Avi.i.o.v  . 

V.\t,I,KY    (IF   TIIK   Ht.    I'ETER'h 
WlN.\KHA(10   WinWAMH 
MOINTAINH    MY   THE    Se.V 

St.  A\Tiri)NY'H  F.m,i,h 

I.ntkkview  of  M.\h.s,\s(iit  wiTir  t  p  Piuirims 

TUKIILO   (IF    LaOU.N.V 

Indian  Women  Plavino  the  Game  of  Plu.m-htones 
Skinnino  the  Uuffalo 

SCAI.P   DaNPE   of  the    DACfiTAS 

ESTUPAS 

IIlNTINd    THE    Ul'FFALO    I\   WiNTER 

Oi.o  FdiiT  Mackinaav 

MiniiUMArKi.v.vr 

Ham,  Pr,.\Y  on  thk  I'iiahuk 

N.WA.Ki  WnavAM.s  . 

("OM...VT   HKTWEEN    THE    Oj.HWAH   AND   THE    Sacs  AND    FoXEH 

Intehvifw  of  IIendiuck  Hudson  with  the  Indians 
Iniiia\.s  offeiuno  Food  to  the  Dead 
PiEHLo  OF  ZuSr      . 

nilFPAro    rUASK 


PAflK 

9 
15 
19 
2f) 
31 
35 
41 
4!) 
53 
57 
fil 
07 
71 
79 
85 
89 
97 
108 
107 
113 
123 


? 


r 


■" P."''UJ^pW(W«(^(ii*'    ■«««t|k>«« 


VASUUEZ    l)E    AYLLON. 


luuE  It  is-and  most  painful  the  reflection-that,  on  recurring  to  the 
rclafon.  of  the  first  visits  n.a.lo  to  America  by  Europeans,  the  prominent 
ulea  .s  ever  the  barbarity  of  the  conquerors  towards  the  aborigines,  and  the 
suffern^gs  endured  by  the  hUter  at  the  hands  of  those  who  came  ostensibly 
to  improve  their  condition.  One  party,  detennined  on  the  acquisition  of 
wealtli  and  power,  hesitated  not  to  sacrifice  the  other,  to  attain  the  desired 

Hardly  had  the  invaders  landed  on  the  western  shores,  than,  viewinc.  the 
wi  r:  *1  ^T  1  '^'"''  "  ''''  ^^"""'^^^^'  '"'-y  ^^«-"  *«  -^  thenrou 
fided  and  fell  ui  the  placcn.  of  Espanola;  destroyed  themselves  in  desi-a- 

Farther  to  the  north,  the  more  hardy  races  came  under  hands  only 

proh  ab  e.     These  too  wronged  them;  both  enslaved,  gave  them  a  taste  of 
.na  c^nn,g  draughts,  placed  fire-arms  in  their  hands,  aL  turn      t  em    i 
wdd  boasts,  ujwn  each  other  ' 

^  to  «,„  „, ,  „  „ J.,  „„  jj;:.:  rrrrr  r 

1  ore    of  the  »o„tU  and  .outluvort,  in  those  oaily  thues      Wo  roc.  II  Z 
^...onao.  o.  11.0  ,.el„.  „f  Mon.0. a„a  Cau.inLn,  ,„o  ^,^Z^ 


10 


VASQUEZ    DE   AYLLON. 


LL*g 


stances  of  their  death,  and  the  dreadful  massacres  that  stahied  the  pathway 
of  the  Spaniards.  With  indignation,  we  remember  the  violence  and  dis- 
honesty that  attended  all  their  proceedings. 

Amid  these  events  of  a  dark  age,  there  are  some  deeds,  some  names,  upon 
which  the  human  heart  may  rest  with  triumph  and  with  pleasure.  Las 
Casas,  with  unequalled  heroism,  demanding  mercy  and  justice  at  the  foot  of 
the  imperial  throne;  the  friars,  in  Mexico,  interposing  the  cross  between  the 
conqueror  and  the  conquered;  Alvar  Nunez,  encompassed  by  misfortunes 
lifting  his  hand  on  the  prairies  of  the  West,  to  teach  the  pathless  wanderer 
there  that  there  was  a  way  for  him  thence,  after  death,  into  the  blue  fields 
above!  And  Moquon,  the  beloved  friend  of  the  Lenape,  founding  a  city  by 
the  Schuylkill,  in  the  name  of  good  fellowship  and  peace! 

Scenes  of  romantic  interest  pass  before  us-interludes  to  soften  or 
that  sharpen,  the  deeds  of  those  unhappy  times.  The  warm  and  delicious 
chmate,  the  glowing,  brilliant  skies;  the  healthful,  balmy  air;  the  luxu- 
riant,  graceful  foliage;  the  luscious,  nourishing  fruits;  the  varied  charms  of 
scenery;  and,  above  all,  the  often  noble  and  kind  traits  of  character  shown 
by  the  natives;  all  these  bring  a  charm  to  the  history  of  a  period,  naturally 
interesting  to  those  who  now  tread  on  the  same  ground,  inhaling  the  same 
air  with  the  first  owners  of  so  fair  a  region. 

It  is,  then,  with  a  feeling  of  satisfaction  rather  than  regret,  that  we  read 
of  the  failures  of  expeditions,  undertaken  to  obtain  gold  and  precious  stones 
at  the  cost  of  the  liberty  and  life  of  a  people,  upon  whom  the  invaders  had 
no  claim. 

The  words  of  an  old  writer,  who  has  related  the  history  of  the  expedition 
of  Ayllon,  may  well  be  remembered  here.  "  In  this  manner,  my  reader 
and  prudent  sir!  who  have  read  in  this  book  and  others,  of  this  history 
that  for  the  gold  that  is  sought  after  in  these  countries,  men  oftoner  come 
upon  tears  and  death  than  what  they  expect,  and  run  great  risk  of  their 
souls,  with  small  chance  of  getting  anything." 

*  ^'  *  ===  *  *  *  :c 

A  series  of  disasters  befell  the  Spaniards  in  their  first  efforts  to  make 
settlements  in  the  southeast  of  this  broad  country.     We  read  of  the  mar- 
vellous  but  true  history  of  Ponce  do  Leon,  who  lost  his  life  in  the  search 
for  that  sparkling  and  wonderful  fountain,  in  which,  whoever  should  bathe 
would  be  restored  to  youth,  though  Time  may  have  laid  the  hand  heavily 


1^ 


3 

> 


1  (lie  pathway 
onco  and  dis- 

e  names,  upon 
iloasure.  Las 
at  the  foot  of 
s  between  the 
'  misfortunes, 
less  wanderer 
he  blue  fields 
ling  a  city  by 

to  soften,  or 
and  delicious 
r;  the  luxu- 
ed  charms  of 
racter  shown 
od,  naturally 
ing  the  same 

that  we  read 
cious  stones, 
nvaders  had 

e  expedition 
,  my  reader 
his  history; 
ftcner  come 
isk  of  their 


ts  to  make 
of  the  mar- 
tlie  search 
3uld  bathe, 
nd  heavily 


VASQUEZ   I)E   AYLLON. 


i 


11 

on  brow  and  limb.  He  looked  within  each  nook  and  grove  of  the  islands 
among  which  he  cruised.  Disappointed  here,  he  fancied  that  in  more  tropi- 
cal  Florida,  concealed  among  its  evergreens  and  flowers,  were  the  miraculous 
waters.  He  found,  instead,  that  bitter  spring,  of  whose  dark  wave  he  and 
every  mortal  were  ordained  to  drink. 

Afterwards,  other  Spaniards  visited  Florida,  and  obtained  small  quantities 
of  gold,  and  silver,  and  pearls,  such  as  they  were,  from  the  Indians,  in  traffic 
They  returned  to  Santo  Domingo,  and  displayed  their  slender  gains. 

Among  those  who  directed  their  vessels  to  our  shores  in  that  early  day 
was  the  master  of  two  little  deckless  vessels  from  the  island  of  Santo 
Domingo,  who,  coming  to  the  Bahama  Islands,  and  finding  them  all  desert 
contnmed  his  course  to  the  northwest,  until  he  found  the  main  land.  It  was 
in  the  year  1520,  and  the  result  was  an  adventure  of  three  gentlemen 
among  whom  was  Lucas  Vasquez  de  Ayllon.  With  little  difficulty  the 
natives  were  induced  to  go  on  board,  under  pretence  of  hospitality,'  and 
showmg  them  many  strange  things.  There,  perfidiously  turned  upon,  they 
were  secured,  and  the  caravels  set  sail,  returning  to  Espauola. 

The  country  that  had  been  .een  came  to  be  the  Chicora  of  Spanish 
dreams.  Among  the  captives,  was  a  young  chief,  who  soon  found  an  inte- 
rest m  Christianity,  and  received,  in  baptism,  the  name  of  Francisco  He 
penetrated  the  designs  and  aims  of  his  captors,  and  steadily  joined  to  these 
he  first  wish  of  his  soul.  Apt  in  the  language  of  the  strangers,  as  in  imi- 
tatmg  their  habits,  he  won  implicit  confidence.  Seemingly  attached  to  the 
fortunes  of  his  master,  Ayllon,  in  turn,  thought  the  Indian  as  fond  of  him 
as  if  he  were  his  father,  and  at  last  came  to  believe  in  him  "like  an  Evan- 
gehst." 

He  related,  therefore,  wonderful  stories,  in  which  he  introduced  accounts 
calculated  to  touch  every  desire  of  those  covetous  and  ambitious  men;  then 

rusted  himself  and  his  fellows,  with  resignation,  to  the  course  of  events 
liavmg  done  the  best  he  could.  Not  more  plausible  were  the  tales  of  gold' 
and  pearls,  than  the  description  he  gave  of  the  beauty  a£  vales  there,  and 

he  rich  productions  of  the  soil.     Who  shall  wonder  at  or  blame  the  .slave 
that,  sitting  among  avaricious  enemies,  he  should  have  recalled  with  more 
than  exaggeration  the  qualities  and  charms  of  a  country,  where  his  life 
from  infancy  to  manhood,  had  passed  in  unrestrained  liberty-where  were' 
now  his  children  and  their  mother.     How  he  prays  to  his  gods  that  the 


12 


VASQUEZ   DE   AVLLON. 


Spaniard  may  sec,  in  fancy,  those  precious  things,  ns  the  wounaod  and 
thirsty  hart  desires  the  water-brooks.  How  impatient  he  is  that  they  set 
forth  togetlicr,  ho  guiding,  until  they  reach,  at  Last,  his  home. 

Lucas  Vasquez  de  Ayllon  was  of  the  Mdalyida  of  Spain ;  his  family  of 
the  city  of  Toledo.  From  thence  he  had  brought  titles,  and  held  station- 
was  Judge  of  the  Royal  Audience,  and  Knight  of  the  Order  of  San  Jago- 
and  m  the  "Indies"  he  had  acquired  wealth  and  estates.  Won  by  the 
Indian  tales,  he  determined  to  return  to  his  country;  though  "he  had  never 
bound  on  him  a  cuirass,  or  girded  a  sword  to  earn  a  livelihood,"  he  resolved 
to  ask  of  his  sovereign  a  grant  of  that  country  of  his  desires. 

He  took  with  him  Don  Francisco  de  Ciiicora,  who  related  anew  the 
wonders  of  his  country.  The  Emperor  gave  Ayllon  all  that  he  asked;  the 
government  of  provinces,  of  their  existences,  as  of  their  names,  Charles 
had  never  before  heard.  Thus  empowered  as  Adelantado,  he  returned  to 
the  island  of  Espauola. 

Not  sufficiently  expeditious  in  his  movements,  the  Governor  was  notified 
before  a  great  while,  by  the  Royal  Councu,  that  he  should  at  once  commence 
his  enterprise,  or  abandon  it,  that  some  other  might  be  advanced  to  his 
position.  Accordingly,  Ayllon  hastened  his  departure,  and  in  the  middle  of 
the  month  of  July,  in  the  year  1520,  he  went  to  sea  from  Puerto  de  Plata 
Ills  force  consisted  of  five  hundred  men,  mostly  islanders,  persons  intelligent 
in  the  character,  and  accustomed  to  the  way  of  life,  of  the  Indians. 

The  largest  vessel  was  the  Jordan,  and  the  names  of  the  other  ships  were 

the  Brotona,  the  Santa  Catalina,  La  Vega,  and  La  Corruca.     There  was  a 

brigantine  besides,  and  a  petache,  or  small  craft.     In  them  were  eighty  or 

ninety  horses;  and  these  came  to  be  the  first  that  were  ever  landed  within 

the  limits  of  a  country  that  now  include  the  United  States.     Nothin^^  was 

wanting  to  give  comfort  to  the  adventurers,  and  worthy  the  support,  ii^that 

day  of  so  great  an  undertaking.     It  was  complete  in  its  every  appointment. 

So  anxious  was  Ayllon  to  reach  Chicora,  that  he  would  touch  nowhere 

on  th«  way.     The  voyage  was  made  direct;  and  the  army  debarked  in  a 

river  called  the  Jordan,  a  name  taken  from  the  fiag-ship  that  soon  after  was 

wrecked  in  the  entrance  now  known  as  the  Sound  of  Saint  Helena 

The  fovorite  slave-"  the  false  Adalid" -was  put  on  shore  with  his 
fellows,  to  seek  their  friends;  but  from  that  time  they  were  never  more 
Jieard  of;  no  more  were  the  provinces,  islands,  and  countries,  such  as  Cavo, 


VASQUEZ    DE   AYLLON.  jg 

Duncl.e,  Anico,  and  Tuvero;  a  long  lino  of  which  has  survived,  a  rolic  of 
the  splendid  imaginings  of  the  Christianized  captive,  Don  Francisco  de  Chi- 
cora.     They  were  forever  gone;  for  no  search  revealed-either  inland  or 
along  the  coast,  any  information  of  those  charming  realms. 
^    The  Indians  left  the  Licentiate  without  interpreter  or  guide,  alarmin^ 

him  as  to  the  truth  of  the  statements,  in  which  he  had  placed  so  much  con! 

hdence.     The  Spaniards  soon  became  discouraged.     Discontented  with  each 

other  and  with  the  country,  they  resolved  to  go  farther  on 

They  sailed  southwestwardly,  until  they  came  to  the  great  river  Gual- 

dape  (the  Savannah). 

Along  by  the  shore  Ihey  set  up  their  camp,  and  began  to  bniU  houses ; 
ae  «rsl,  probably,  ever  ereeted  on  our  shores,  by  other  than  the  natives 
The  country  ,vas  level  and  moist.  The  river-the  current  of  which  was 
rapid  and  poworful-atounded  in  fine  fish,  that  the  Spaniards  enjoyed 
exceedingly,  as  then-  provisions  were  becoming  scarce,  and  had,  indeed,  begun 
to  fail.  The  sufferings,  privations,  and  disappointments  they  experienced 
a~d  ""  "''"'  °"  '""^  °""""''"""'-     *^»»^  of  tlienf  siclcenei 

died  like  a  CI.  islian,  receiving  the  holy  sacraments.     lie  repented  hiin  of 
his  sins,  and  liis  evil  thoughts,  and  regretted  having  undertaken  that    o  ' 

Oetobei,  o20  He  appointed  to  govern  in  his  place,  until  their  Maiestics 
should  otherwise  direct,  a  cousin,  J„an  Eamirez,  who  bad  remained  a  tie 
ishiud.  and,  until  he  slionld  arrive,  a  Cap.ain  l,..aiicisc„  Oome.  „.„.,tlt 

^^^T''  "'""^i"""  ""  P'"°"'  "'  "'°  '""'«=''<^'  ">  '"^  '"'«•"  to  «'0  oily  „f 
^anto  Domingo,  where  were  his  h„„.,e  and  establishment;  or  to  Puerto 
de  Plata,  whence  it  m  ght  bo  removed      n„  *i.„ 

countered.  The  litti:  vessel  z::'.::^^:;z::  T::: - 
::;.  ;':iS:r "  ""'''■  --^  -^ "-'  -""-  -"-^  -«-  --'-^  -^  -  z: 

Very  soon  faded  .away  the  short-lived  government  established  by  Ayllon 
The  natives  manifested  for  bin,  and  his  companions  tlie  utmost  dislike  ^d 
the  deepest  revenge,  in  consequence  of  so  many  of  their  neonle  1„         i 
ki.lnapped  in  the  previous  voyage  of  the  .SpanLl       '  '     '  "'  '"" 


14 


VASQUEZ   DE   AYLLON. 


The  survivors  of  Ayllon's  expedition  returned,  some  of  them  to  the  island 
of  Espanola,  and  others  to  Porto  Rico.  Of  all  who  embarked  from  Puerto 
de  Plata,  only  one  hundred  and  fifty  escaped  with  their  lives,  the  rest  havin.^ 
perished  by  accident,  by  famine,  and  disease. 

The  Spaniards  found  no  large  settlements.     The  Indians  were  great 
archers,  using  strong  bows  of  chestnut,  and  without  poisoning  their  arrows 
They  were  tall  and  finely  formed,  and  clothed  themselves  in  the  skins  of 
animals. 

Their  houses,  or  huts,  were  some  distance  apart.  On  one  of  the  little 
islands  on  the  coast,  they  saw  a  temple,  in  which  were  placed  the  bones  of 
the  children  of  the  better  class  of  people.  Those  of  their  greatest  men  were 
in  a  temple,  apart  by  themselves.  The  walls  of  these  structures  were  of 
lime  and  shell,  built  a  story  and  a  half  high. 

Along  the  coasts  were  other  houses,  so  large  that  all  the  inhabitants  of 
a  town  could  live  in  one  of  them.  They  were  also  built  of  pines,  and  were 
sometimes  tliree  hundred  feet  in  length,  and  from  fifteen  to  twenty  feet  in 
width.     In  each  could  live,  after  Indian  fashion,  a  great  many  families. 

The  Spaniards,  notwithstanding  all  they  suffered,  pronounced  this  a  fair 
region.  There  were  immense  pines,  oaks,  chinquapins,  and  the  sumach 
tree;  and  grape-vines,  of  a  size  unknown  to  them  before,  entangled  all. 
The  forest  was  full  of  birds;  among  them  were  the  mocking-bird  and  cardi- 
nal. In  the  paths  gambolled  innumerable  squirrels  and  rabbits.  The  rivers 
were  as  full  of  life. 

In  the  summer  of  1540,  thirteen  years  after  the  expedition  of  Ayllon 
had  retired,  the  army  of  Soto  came  to  the  banks  of  the  Savannah  River 
from  the  south,  and  went  to  the  town  of  Cofitachique,  "the  place  where  the' 
partridges  lay."  In  unrolling  there  the  bodies  of  some  dead  that  had  been 
embalmed,  the  Spaniards  discovered  rosaries  of  glass  beads  upon  them  with 
crosses,  and  found  hatchets,  such  as  they  recognized  to  be  of  the  mdce  of 
Vizcaya.  They  saw,  now,  that  they  had  probably  come  within  the  country 
granted  by  their  sovereign  to  Aylloii^ 


n  to  the  island 
1  from  Puerto 
lie  rest  having 

IS  were  great 
their  arrows, 
the  skins  of 

i  of  the  little 

tlie  bones  of 

est  men  were 

;urcs  were  of 

nhabitants  of 
les,  and  were 
venty  feet  in 
families, 
ed  this  a  fair 
the  sumach 
itangled  all. 
d  and  cardi- 
The  rivers 


II  of  Ayllon 
tniah  River, 
e  where  the 
at  had  been 
them,  with 
he  make  of 
the  country 


•K' 


r 


-1 


% 


VALLEY   OF  TJIE   SAINT  TETEK'S. 


In  tl,o  boHom  of  the  Vale  of  Saint  Peter's,  the  Mine-sota  River  niin-Hes 
itH  watern  with  thoHc  of  the  Mississippi.     The  bard  who  «ang  the  praise  of 
Ovoca,  could  never  have  looked  upon  the  scene  represented  by  the  picture 
or  he  would  not  have  said : ' 

"  There  is  not  in  the  wide  world  a  valley  so  sweet." 

The  river,  in  pursuing  its  winding  course,  gently  washes  the  banks 
where  grow  the  ash,  the  maple,  and  the  willow  trees.  So  curiously  does  it 
turn  among  the  low  grounds,  amid  long  weedy  grass,  that  the  eye  can 
Bcarcely  distinguish  it  from  the  blue  lakes  that  sleep  near,  which  it 
stealthily  approaches,  as  it  were  to  look  upon  their  beauty,  and  to  retire 

At  tlK.  bluff,  on  the  right,  begins  the  prairie,  the  margin  of  which  is  so 
distant  that  the  traveler  will  have  to  follow  down  the  horizon  many  times 
before  he  can  discover  it.  Beneath,  in  the  plashy  soil,  the  woodcock  thrusts 
her  bill  ex  ractmg  thence  the  means  of  life.     A  short  distance  below  a 

P  ace  of  the  Dacotas,  that  may  be  run  for,  as  a  beacon,  by  the  navigator  of 
he  prairie  sea     It  is  there,  at  the  base,  the  waves  of  the  Minesota  hasten 
to  lose  themselves  in  the  Mississippi. 

t,  su  h  are  the  temptations  it  holds  forth  to  the  white  man,  that  a 
ht  le  while,  and  the  lodge  of  the  Indian  >vill  stand  there  no  more.  No  In 
a  fnend  of  that  race  justly  lament  that  a  Christian  nation  will  displac  a 
people  that  know  not  God.     "The  gods  that  have  not  made  theWen 

I^eavens.      But  shall  the  people  perish?    Enlightened  nations  constitute 


IG 


VAM.MV   or-    Till-;    MAI  XT    PKTRU'H. 


I 


'MJ 


tl,om,c.vo,  11,0  g„„„ii„,„  „r  tl,e  uncivilized;  but  ll.o  ,,r.,,,lu.cy  of  ,1,.  d,H,„, 
oi  tho  red  man  midH  "cxtermiimtioii." 

A  fcnv  miles  aI.ovo  tlio  mouth  ol'  the  Saint  PctorV,  in  which  an  Maud  of 
iM  woods  ropoHCH,  is  a  I)ac.'>ta  viUng...  TI.o  chief  „tnn.lH  erect  and 
l>.ond-,>oo,.  as  he  is_and  says:  "No  one  n.ay  pass  this  villn.e  without 
n.yi>enn.s.un;  and,  he  adds,  directing  his  thoughts  to  the  hahit  of  the 
wliite  man,  "  I  koep  the  /.vv/  „f  the  Mi-ne  So-ta." 

The  Da-cc'.  tas,  dwelh'ng  in  the  ^alley,  are  proud  of  their  nanus  which 
;;-..     un.ted    or  " a.hed."     The  nation  consists  of  a  nun.ber  of  confede- 
.U.  tnbes.     Ihey  olten  «peak  of  then.solves  as  the  O-rcfl  Aie-/..../.,  tho 
i.even  Conned  Jures;"  for  there  are  so  many  principal  b:uuls  an.on,  tlu.n. 
Iheu-  mnnher  ,s  estunated  at  twenty-f.ve  thou,  u.d      'I  heir  broad  terri.ury 
-vtends  Irom  the  Mississippi  on  the  east,  to  tho  iJIack  Hills  on  the  wesf 
I  Ley  pursue  the  buflalo  for  their  food  Mod  clothin,.      Of  the  skins,  th.; 
make  then-  houses  m  the  wiuler,  which  they  plac-  where  wood  can  be  con- 
vemently  got.     They  plant  con,  and  son,o  of  then,  are  beginning  to  e      . 
v.te,  a    Utie,  other  things.     F..   twenty  years,  nussiou.u-ies  l,;.;       ^ 
among  then.     A  i'..  know  how  to  read  and  write;  a  very  few  have    m 

l.mcul ty,  arranged  a  grammar  and  a  dicti.mary  of  their  language.    A  b-uul  of  ^ 
the  Mde-wa-kan-ton-wans  live  at  this  village.     They  cont^d  thatlh;;!;' ,  f 
Hpot  they  occupy  ^s  precisely  over  the  centre  of  the  earth.    Two  ol"  the  other 
l.mds  declare  that  they  have  the  very  centre,  and  claim  precedence  the  " 
io,  over  all  the  rest.     This  is  often  a  subject  of  discussion  among  them 
The  language  ddlers  a  little  in  the  manner  that  it  is  spoken  by  each  of  the 
bands;  but  not  enough  to  render  an  interchange  of  thought  diflicult.     Their 

«  ood  by  the  conjurer  or  prophet.     In  it  they  use  expressions  wide  of  the 
dea  they  appear  to  convey,  or  words  from  son.e  other  Indian  tongue  or 
closcnpt^ve  sentences.     In  their  war  songs  are  the  strongest  figures  of  rpee'c 
havmg  hkewise  an  opp..ite  sense.     The  songs  are  mere  repeUtion. 

In  a  newspaper  pnMished  hy  the  Da.otn  mission,  for  tho  benefit  of  the 
Indians,  may  be  fouad  an  example  of  their  poetry.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Pond 
thus  writes  of  what  he  witnessed,  at  the  time  he  heard  it  - 

"The  unearthliness  of  the  scene  cannot  be  described,  as  in  the  twilight 
oi   the  monung,  wlule  the  mother  of  the  deceased  b.^  ...  ,,;,,,,  -^  , 


locy  of  tln'  doom 


V  A  1. 1.  K  V    ( » I'    T  ii  (,;    s  A  |  N  '{'    f  f,;  t  K  |{  'H. 


J7 


I 


inanncr  thnt  woul.l  excite  the  H^inpathi.M  of  the  hardest  heart.  lUack 
11..V,  Htan.lin.i,  on  fh.  l,nnv  of  ..  hill,  n.i.lrcHH.,!  the  ghoMly  ir.hui.it.n.H  of 
the  spint  world,  m  gliostly  iiotoH  a.s  follows  :— 

Frii'iidH  I  pitiLsu  and  look  thin  wuy  • 

FriiiitlH I  luiiiKt'  011(1  look  thid  way ; 

FriciidH !  jmiiHc  and  look  (Mh  way; 

Say  yi., 

A  Ki'itiidMoii  of  HIack  Hoy  in  (•oiiijiiff. 

The  IW.tas  coui.t  their  n.onthH  by  ,noon,s,  their  years  l,y  wintorn,  their 
.dayn  by  n.ghtn,  or  "bleeps."     Every  month  they  believe  they  have,  indeed 
u  new  moon,  and  that  tlie  old  one  was  nibbled  away  by  «mall  mice.     They' 
reekoji  by  use  of  the  fuigers.  "^ 

They  are  a  devotional  people,  believing  in  a  multitude  cd'  Hi.iritH,  ..ood 

and  evd,  that  are  constantly  at  work  on  the  dcstinien  of  men,     They  wor^nhip 

.0  snn,  and  they  pay  their  adoration,  to  ntone.     They  ot^ener  HacriHce  tl. 

e  .pnjt  of  evd  than  to  the  beneficent  one.     The  S^ven  TriboH  of  the 

Was     ve  „.  detached  villages.     Nothing  of  Indian  labor  but  the  n.ounds 

iXinl;:'  ^'""  "^ ''-' ''-'' ''-''  -  '"^ '-''  -" '"-  -y 

frivel"  ';;;'""^;'""-  ^^'^^^-^^-^^>  «.,.  have  kept  about  the  course  of  the 
nvcr     There  the  women  cultivate  the  corn,  and  ,lry  it  in  the  sun 

The  navigation  of  the  Saint  Peter's  becomes  difficult  as  the  voyager 

f-c.,ds.     The  numerous  islands  are  the  cause;  but  these  obstructions^^l! 

n,der  more  p.cturesque  the  scenes  through  which  he  will  pass.     The  .sandv 

-,-.1  the     >w  state  of  the  .vater,  give  him  more  than' time  to  ob     ve 

hepl^ns  .md  nuvrshes  that  bound  the  shores,  and  to  admire  the  linZ 

•S  the  as     and  the  luxuriant  wild  grape  that  twines  about  their  tru  .  s 

and  rises  to  their  branches.  irunk.s, 

The  silence  of  the  shores  becomes  tedious,  so  few  are  the  animals  that 
called  by  the  Dac(5tas  "  The  lakes  of  the  very  lar^e  birds  "     T 

I  tune,  ,h.„  ,,,„.  ,,„„.  ,„  „,„„,„,  „,„,,  „,^,  „„,,,^,  ^|,^,_^  „|,ip„„„,„,i,,     ,,J;^ 


I 

11^ 


I* ' 
ji ' 


18 


V  A  L  L  E  Y    0  F    T  II E    S  A  1  N  T    P  K  T  E  II ' S. 


covered  with  logs,  to  prok^ct  the  buried  from  the  wolvefs;  scaffolds  with  the 
recent  dead  upon  them,  and  Indian  writing,  tracing  events  in  the  life  of  the 
deceased  warrior  or  woman,  are  here  and  there  seen.  From  the  posts  of  tlie 
scaffolds  sway  with  the  winds  long  locks  of  hair,  cut  from  the  brow  of  the 
mourner,  and  placed  there,  a  sacrifice  to  affection. 

Objects  of  religious  worship  are  not  rare.  Rocks  covered  with  inscrip- 
tions, near  which  the  offerings  of  the  savage  to  his  deity  are  placed,  are 
considered  holy  by  the  passer-by.  The  savage  makes  his  offering  in  igno- 
ranee,  but  he  has  done  what  he  could,  in  the  devotional  customs  of  his  faith. 
To  use  the  language  of  one  of  the  missionaries,  "  No  one  can  witness  the 
religious  ceremonies  of  this  people,  without  being  deeply  impressed  with  the 
fact,  that  what  St.  Paul  said  of  the  Athenians  is  true,  to  a  very  great  extent, 
of  the  Dacotas — in  all  tUmja  very  icorahlp/ul." 


[ifiblds  with  the 
1  the  life  of  the 
the  posts  of  the 
he  brow  of  the 


id  with  inscrip- 
are  pLaced,  are 
fFering  in  igno- 
iins  of  hisfaitli. 
an  witness  the 
ressed  with  tlie 
y  great  extent, 


^;V, 


< 
it 


WINNEBAGO    WIGWAMS. 


The  picture  shows  the  exterior  of  the  wigwams  of  the  Winnebagoes. 
The  mode  of  construction  lias  been  described  in  another  place,  wherrthe 
interior  of  the  lodge  has  been  displayed;  it  is  simply  this;  young  trees  are 
bent  over,  in  a  conical  form,  and  a  sort  of  bower  made,  that  is  covered  with 
bark.  The  winter  houses  are  covered  with  skins.  When  bands  or  families 
remove,  they  only  take  the  covering  of  their  lodges,  leaving  the  framework 
standing.  The  lodges  have  generally  two  doors,  and  are  without  windows. 
The  men  assist  their  wives  in  erecting  them;  but  this  is  not  in  accordance 
with  their  ancient  custom. 

There  is  but  a  small  remnant  existing  of  the  once  powerful  tribe  of 
Winnebagoes.  At  one  time  they  occupied  a  large  extent  of  territory. 
By  constant  murders  and  depredations,  they  became  troublesome  neighbors 
to  the  people  of  the  United  States.  They  number  noiv  about  2,500.  Their 
country  is  bounded  by  the  Crow-Wing,  Watab,  Long  Prairie,  .md  Mississippi 
Elvers. 

Their  traditions  say  that  the  first  Winnebago  was  created  on  the  west 
shore  of  Lake  Michigan.  They  call  themselves  0-chun-ga-raw,  but  have 
other  names,  by  which  they  are  known  to  different  tribes. 

Great  efforts  have  been  made,  on  the  part  of  our  government,  to  civilize 
them.  Much  money  has  been  expended,  and  many  years  have  been  devoted 
by  valuable  and  excellent  men,  to  that  purpose.  Yet  they  retain  the  usual 
devotion  observed  in  the  Indians  to  their  early  customs  and  foith,  and 
especially  to  a  wandering  mode  of  life. 

One  of  their  principal  men  showed  a  desire  to  be  educated,  and  to  live 
as  the  white  men  near  him.  To  encourage  this  feeling,  the  missionaries 
built  him  a  house,  small,  but  comfortable,  in  all  respects  like  their  own. 
This  was  a  compliment  most  gratifying  to  the  Winnebago,  and  he,  with  his 


20 


\V  I  N  N  1<:  1$  A  (J  ()    W  1  (J  W  A  M  S. 


family,  took  possession  of  it  with  great  satisfaction.  Shortly  after,  the  mis- 
eionaries  visited  them  in  their  new  domicil.  The  iloor  had  been  taken  up, 
the  fire  was  burning  in  the  middle  of  the  house,  and  a  hole  had  been  cut  in 
the  roof,  though  there  was  already  a  chimney  there.  Better  for  them  was 
the  wigwam  of  bark,  than  a  white  man's  house. 

The   Winnebagoea   show  great    reverence  for   finiily  importance,  and 

respect  is  paid  to  the  members  of  any  family  held  in  such  reverence.     Poor 

and  degraded  as  they  now  are,  they  cling  to  certain  old  prejudices,  and  to 

none  more  than  that  which  awards  to  families  a  consetiuence  peculiar  to 

them.     The  family  of  the  Walking  Turtle  is  one  of  the  most  important  iu 

the  tribe.     Such  names  indicate  the  totem,  or  mark  the  fanuly  to  which  the 

Indian  belongs.     We  may  fear  family  pride  comes  as  near  io  a  virtue  as  any 

quality  the  poor  fallen  Winnebagoes  may  possess;  for  all  efforts  have  failed 

to  make  them  other  than  a  degraded,  wretched  people.     "  The  Great  Spirit," 

said  a  Winnebago,  "  has  made  the  Indian  red,  and  soap  and  water  cannot 

make  him  white."     "  I  have  .given  my  life  away— it  is  gone,"  said  another 

warrior,  when  he  gave  himself  up  to  the  United  States  authorities  for 

having  committed  a  murder.     Many  things  might  be  repeated  that  mark 

the  intellectual  force  of  that  people;  for,  in  their  better  days  their  men  were 

equally  noted  for  strength  of  mind,  and  felicity  of  thought.     There  is  now 

little  to  call  forth  interest  in  the  remnant  of  their  tribe.     Their  day  is 

drawing  to  a  close. 

Very  rarely  have  women  been  admitted  to  councils,  among  the  Indians, 
and  when  this  has  occurred,  it  was  probably  owing  to  the  possession  of 
a  remarkable  talent,  or  by  an  unusual  concurrence  of  events.  Yet  once 
the  tribe  of  Winnebagoes  were  governed  by  a  queen,  who  sat  in  council 
attended  by  women.  In  those  early  times  their  villages  were  populous;  the 
furs  of  the  bear  and  moose  then  hung  about  their  dwellings,  and  adorned 
the  persons  of  their  warriors.  Now,  the  traveler  only  observes  poverty  and 
degradation— the  consequence  of  intoxicating  drinks,  to  which  these  Indians 
are  slaves. 

They  have  lost  much  of  the  warlike  reputation  they  possessed  in  their 
more  prosperous  times.  They  have  great  confidence  in  dreams,  and  perform 
long  fasts  to  induce  them.  The  warrior  who,  in  a  battle,  takes  the  first 
scalp,  is  rewarded  handsomely  by  his  people.  When  on  a  war  excursion, 
each  Indian  carries,  in  a  bag  made  of  rushes,  a  root  of  some  plant.     He 


»^'    ^ 


'^m$ 


I  (tor,  the  mis- 
-'011  tiikoii  up, 
III  been  cut  in 
for  tlioin  was 

K)rtiiiico,  iuiil 
MX'iico.  Poor 
-id ices,  suid  to 
e  peculiar  to 
iiiiportiint  in 

to  which  the 
virtue  as  any 
ts  have  failed 
Great  Spirit," 
ivater  cannot 

said  another 
ithorities  for 
d  that  mark 
eir  men  were 
rhere  is  now 
Their  day  is 

the  Indians, 
possession  of 
?.  Yet  once 
it  in  council 
populous;  the 
and  adorned 
poverty  and 
hesc  Indians 

ssed  in  their 
and  perform 
«es  the  first 
r  excursion, 
plant.     He 


m 


WINNEBAGO   WIOWAMS. 


-^ 


21 


chews  the  root,  and  swallows  the  juice,  to  make  him  brave;  anointing  his 
body  with  it,  to  protect  him  from  injury.  Many  such  superstitions  influence 
them. 

The  war  chief  commands  in  battle,  assigns  to  each  warrior  his  post, 
and  has  complete  control  over  the  war  party.  He  determines  the  fate  of 
any  prisoners  that  may  be  taken.  These  are  carried  to  the  village,  and 
their  captors  lead  them  to  the  lodge  of  the  war  chief.  If  he  bid  them°  enter, 
they  must  die;  if  he  close  the  door  against  them,  their  lives  are  given  to 
them,  and  they  are  considered  members  of  the  tribe.  Bolbre  going  into 
battle,  the  Winnebagoes  paint  their  bodies  with  vermilion,  and  with  white; 
daubing  them  with  clay,  to  appear  as  frightful  as  possible,  when  facing  thJ 
enemy,  and  ringing  their  warwhoop  in  defiance. 

They  bury  their  dead  in  the  ground,  sometimes  in  a  sitting  iiosture,  but 
generally  lying  down.  Always  the  fiice  must  look  towards  the  west,  for 
there  is  "the  happy  land."  When  death  approaches,  the  Winnebago  is 
calm  in  its  prospect.  The  friends,  as  soon  as  the  soul  has  gone,  dresr  the 
body  in  new  clothing,  and  put  it  in  a  coffin,  after  the  manner  of  the  whites, 
or,  as  formerly,  in  wrappings  of  bark.  Sometimes  the  dead  are  placed  on 
scaffolds. 

They  dance  solemnly  around  the  grave.  For  four  nights  after  death, 
fires  are  kindled,  that  the  soul  may  be  lighted  in  its  path  to  its  final  home! 
All  grass  and  herbs  are  swept  away  from  the  grave,  that  the  bad  spirits  that 
desire  to  approach  it,  may  have  nothing  to  which  tliey  may  cling.  Over  the 
grave  is  placed  a  covering  of  wood  or  bark,  and  near  it,  a  post  is  set  up, 
having  on  it  hieroglyphics. 

The  Winnebagoes  show  the  strongest  regard  for  family  ties.  Orphans 
are  never  neglected;  the  nearest  relative  receives  them  kindly,  and  maintains 
them.  The  aged  are  always  cared  for.  The  chiefs  consider  the  unfortunate 
members  of  their  bands  as  having  just  claims  upon  their  consideration. 
They  are  very  expert  in  the  construction  of  canoes,  making  them  of  lo-s  in 
such  a  manner  that  they  are  strong  and  durable.  Much  pains  is  taken  to 
imish  them  handsomely.  Before  they  had  metallic  vessels  for  cookinn-  thoy 
used  wooden  ones.  They  put  water  in  them,  and  then  heating  a  mimber 
of  stones  very  hot,  dropped  them  in.  As  these  cooled,  they  were  replaced 
by  others  from  the  fire.     They  have  no  regular  time  for  meals.     Some  of 


22 


WINNEHAUO    WIGWAMS. 


thorn  have  taken  a  little  interent  in  farming,  and  show  a  desire  to  attain 
some  knowledge  of  mechanics,  as  applied  to  the  ordinary  purposes  of  life. 

Wild  rice  and  many  wild  berries  grow  plentifully  in  their  country 
Maple  sugar  is  made  in  large  quantities.  They  have  the  artichoke  and  the 
Avild  potato. 

They  are  very  fond  of  dress.  Red  is  the  favorite  color  of  the  youn- 
people,  green  of  the  aged.  To  show  their  office,  the  chiefs  wear  medal^ 
presented  by  the  President.  In  winter,  they  all  prefer  white  blankets;  in 
summer,  the  young  people  paint  theirs  with  gaudy  colors,  and  in  strange 
devices.  The  men  wear  handsome  headdresses  of  eagle  feathers;  both  sexes 
delight  in  the  adorning  of  their  persons  with  such  ornaments  as  they  can 
procure  from  the  traders. 

As  usual  with  Indians,  the  men  like  to  have  their  faces  perfectly  smooth, 
eradicating  the  beard.  They  wear  their  hair  short,  except  one  long  braid 
from  the  crown,  that  is  tied  at  the  end  with  ribbon.  The  women  wear  a 
quantity  of  beads  and  ribbon  in  the  hair. 

The  Great  Spirit  made  the  first  Winnebago  of  a  piece  of  his  own  body, 
near  his  heart.  The  first  woman  he  made  was  the  earth,  the  mother  cf  the 
Red  men.  He  gave  them  the  right  of  their  country.  Their  wise  men  talk 
of  that  great  event,  the  overllowing  of  the  earth  with  water.  They  declare 
mournfully,  that  before  they  knew  the  English  and  Trench,  they  knew  not 
sorrow;  for,  that  they  brought  them  spirituous  liquors,  raid  many  diseases. 
►  The  old  people  delight  in  talking  of  this,  their  golden  age. 

The  Winnebagoes  have  many  gods.  They  reverence,  and  will  never 
kill,  the  rattlesnake,  believing  a  spirit  dwells  within  it  that  will,  if  angered, 
bring  a  terrible  punishment. 

The  wise  men  say  the  earth  is  flat;  the  sun  going  from  east  to  west 
durmg  the  day,  hides  himself  under  the  earth  at  night,  and  passes  thus  to 
the  en^t  by  morning.  They  believe  the  sun  is  a  body  of  fire,  much  smaller 
than  the  earth.  They  have  names  for  some  of  the  stars,  and  they  pro- 
nounce  the  Aurora  a  bad  spirit,  anxious  to  bring  death  upon  them  The 
milky  way  is  the  path  of  the  dead.  The  rainbow  and  meteors  excite  their 
superstitious  fears. 

Their  doctors  are  artful  and  wicked.  They  demand  large  feeS,  that  must 
be  paid  in  advance  of  what  they  do;  but  they  practise  vigorously  when 
they  have  secured  a  good  bargain.     They  sing  and  dance,  and  sacrifice  dogs. 


WINNKI!A(J(,    \V[(nVA.VlH.  33 

Tlioy  fasten  nnakcs  and  toads  to  sticks,  and  place  them  near  the  hod  of  the 
l.»dK.nt  to  scare  away  evil  spirits.  They  fast  while  usin.  charms  and  incan- 
tat.ons,  ,n  the  exercise  of  their  office.  They  are  utterly  ignorant  of  any 
science,  as  applied  to  disease;  hnt  bleed  and  give  vapor-haths,  and  drum  and 
m^g  rattling  the  magic  gourd  for  a  cold,  a  fever,  or  an  accident.  Simple 
medicines  are  given,  made  from  roots,  or  the  bark  of  trees 

Indians  have  great  faith  in  the  practice  of  bleeding;  they  fancy  this 
remedy  extremely.  In  health,  they  often  submit  to  it.  Their  doctor  opens 
he  vein  with  a  piece  of  sharp  flint,  if  he  have  no  better  instrument,  and 
leaves  the  patient  to  stop  the  bleeding  when  he  chooses.  They  cup  with  the 
use  of  a  flint,  and  the  horn  of  an  ox  or  buffalo.  It  is  curious  to  observe 
to  what  snnple  expedients  those  resort,  who  are  ignorant  of  the  resources 
allorded  by  a  knowledge  of  science  and  of  art. 


1^. 


ff 

11 

(i 

-'1  i  ( 

y 

^if 

THE   SUN    FALLS   INTO   TIIK    WATER. 

HUSIII    A'   OKA   TULA. 


..0..  .;r::,;;:'::lr:L:^^::=-''-- 
,,i,,,,hct.  ^  itlJCUoil  iiganist  the  gu.diag  of  tlio 

t„i-,!",'; '!";,''"'' '"'"'  '""""'•' "'"  ™-^''  ""'• "'"  '"Ji"-  tncv  by  «„•, 

token,  tbat  they  must  iro  fbrwnnl      T-^    ,  •  .  .i    •  -^ 

he,  .1,0  ™a  «,„„a  eroc,  bonding  „„  ,„„,,  ^  „,„  ,^,„„^    ™;  '  '^ 
the  desired  country!  J-iicro  was 

when  the  prophet  spoke  and  said:  <' The  Great  Spirit  has  given  us  t^. 
country  for  our  home,"  the  Indians  raised  a  mighty  shout     All  t  • 

of  their  journey  was  for-otten      A  f  .,  ""  weariness 

Ch.I.  f..  i-f  H    •^Z''''. f;»°"*^"-     ^t  once,  the  warriors  and  sages  assembled 

^  .      an^in^  me  old,  and  introducing  now  customs. 


>-i 


20 


THE   SUx\   FALLS   INTO   THE    WATER. 


Hero,  whore  the  rod  stood  erect,  Chah-ta  caused  the  mound  of  Nun-i-wai-ya 
to  be  reared.  It  was  fifty  feet  liigh;  and  even  now,  after  the  lan.e  of  so 
-any  ages,  it  rises  still  to  forty  feet.  On  its  top  spreads  out  an  acre  of 
level  ground.  There  are  now  the  remains  of  the  wall,  and  of  four  gates; 
and  the  beaten  paths  leading  from  these  gates  are  still  to  be  seen  The 
mound  has  ever  been  held  sacred  by  the  Choctaws;  for  there  was  buried 
Chah-ta  the  prophet,  and  there  have  reposed,  for  many  generations,  all  their 
beloved  men. 

Around  this  sacred  pile  are  many  hills,  covered  with  ancient  pines. 
Jmr  ^^lleys  he  betvveen  them,  and  watercourses,  sparkling  and  clear,  sweep 
by  at  their  feet.     The  air  is  salubrious,  and  the  situation  beautiful      This 

IS  why  Chah-ta,  guided  by  the  rod,  fixed  upon  this  spot  as  the  home  of  his 

l^eople. 

Many,  many  years  ago,  long  before  the  white  man  found  this  great  Con- 
inent  aoid  claimed  it  for  his  own,  the  Choctaws  were  at  peace  with  all  the 
bribes  of  red  men  on  the  earth.  Their  warriors  were  engaged  only  in  the 
chase  the  ball  play,  or  ^^-^  dance;  they  had  none  but  paths  of  peace  in 
which  to  travel.  The  sages,  the  philosophers  of  the  tribe,  and  the  a^^ed 
warriors,  had  no  occupation  but  to  tell  the  traditions  of  the  past 

Once,  in  this  harmonious  period  in  the  history  of  the  nation,  it  was 
determined  to  call  a  council  of  all  the  sages  of  the  Choctaw  people.     They 
assembled  around  the  council  fire  which  had  ever  burned  since  the  olil 
prophet  had  kindled  it.     The  people  knew  something  important  was  to  be 
discussed,  and  they  were  curious  to  hear  what  it  was.     Had  it  been  a 
couiicl  of  chiefs  or  ^varriors,  such  an  assemblage  would  have  had  tokens  in 
It  of  strife  or  peace.     But  this  was  an  unusual  circumstance;  the  meetin-^ 
together,  in  solemn  deliberation,  of  the  wise  men  of  so  powerful  a  nation    ° 
There  arose,  in  this  council,  the  mightiest  of  the  sages  of  the  Choctaws, 
or,  as  they  were  called,  ''  The  knowing  ones."     It  was  just  at  mid-day  that 
he  stood  up,  surrounded  by  many  friends,  some  as  aged  as  he;  but  none  so 
tall,  so  dignified,  so  venerable  in  their  appearance.     His  hair  was  Ion-  and 
white;  his  eyes,  no  longer  brilliant  with  the  fire  of  youth,  looked  with 
mtense  earnestness  upon  those  whom  he  was  about  to  address.     All  was 
solemnity  and  deep  attention.     Ancient  men,  such  as  himself,  sat  round 
lum,  waiting  for  what  he  should  say;  for  his  very  presence  imposed  an  awe 
upon  them  all.     IJo  pointed  his  hand  upwards,  and  said  — 


THE    SUN   FALLS   IXTO   THE   WATER,  g? 

"It  is  now  mid.d„y;  „,o  ,„„  j,  ;„  ,„,  ,,i„,,^^^      ^^^  ,_^ 
ho  co„„,  abovo ;  a„J  it  i,  „f  the  .,„  that  I  wi.,h  t„  «pcak.     Y„„  a  I  kl  " 
ti.a   ,t ..,  ho  that  hnnsoth  da,,  ,«  ho  co,„o»  up  f,.„,„  the  oa»t,  and  .^^^en  hi 
eooth  down  ,„  tho  wo«t,  the  day  gooth  with  hhn.     Thon  the  „i»h.  co  „eth 
ti,c  t,mo  fof  tlio  moon  and  star.,  to  sluno     It  i.  tl,o  .„„  ,i!  T  ' 

aestinyof  ah,  and  when  he  f„,,ake.  ,n  n  le  i.  l,r   A         °-°™™'  "" 
111  "i«iu,  uc  IS  lost.     A  warrior  mnv  ho 

hmve  and  good  and  honest;  hut  if  the  sun  forsake  him,  he  wi      ol 
acts  of  wlnch,  before,  he  wonid  have  been  ashamed  to  he  guilty 

And  tl,e  sun  brings  gladness  upon  man,  and  joy-and  upon  the  beast, 

00   ..ght   and   gayety;   upon   all  things,  Hfe   and   happine  s.     Wh^ri: 

loolvs  upon  Hie  birds,  tliey  sing.  vvnen  lie 

"When  he  travels  Ins  high  path  in  the  ,kies,  then  it  is  sprinMime- 

1-e  trees  pnt  forth  their  leaves,  the  grass  shoots  up,  and  the  flotr:  Zn 

.   he  time  for  the  planting  of  eoni.     The  south  winds  come,  ZinT:,' 

he  clouds,  and  we  hear  the  great  thunder,  and  the  rain  falls     If  , 

c  descends  and  travels  his  path  in  the  so;her„!i:ie:th»    belt:  of 
e  ™e  and  fall.     Then  come  the  north  winds  and  witl     hri  e 

rLt'::;:,::rr '- ""  ™-'"^ '°  ^-^  '"^  -"-  -» -■»^- 

-Our  traveler.,  men  of  truth,  have  gone  far  to  the  east.     There  thev 
aw,  wlien    hey  eame  ,o  the  shores,  the  great  waves  of  tlie  sea.     T  J^  he 

1:;:  :f■::7^"^»'°"^"'"-  ^"-.'..y  saw  .he  sun  2'z 

come  up  out  of  the  deep,  where  the  sky  bends  down  to  meet  the  waters 
HLsftc    seemed  to  be  all  wet,  from  the  splashing  of  the  wavea  upon  it. 

ihis  we  know,  that  tho  sun  doth  arise  out  of  the  waters  i,   tb.        . 
but  not  ...,e  of  „„  the  Cha.i-tahs  hath  gone  so  far  w       T     Z  he  Zl 
oh.  g„,„  Our  warriors  have  been  a  long  wa^  weat  „7tho  gZ 

R.ver,  and  tliey  have  fought  the  tribes  of  the   prairies.      I  have  done 
hat,  and  more.     I  have  climbed  the  high  mountains,  and  from  t     r  ton 
have  looked  westward.     I  have  seen  the  sun  set  there  and  it  .,:,^^d'  ot 
to  be  stdl  as  far  as  it  is  tiom  the  lofty  hills  of  NunAwai-ya     Are  there 
none  among  us  who  will  go  in  search  of  the  plaee  where  the  si  n  gt'down 
and  bring  us  tidings,  that  we  may  have  a  knowledge  of  itr-         "^       "' 
When  the  old  man  had  finished  these  words,  lie  took  his  seat  hv  the 
ounc    Are,  wile  a  youthful  w,.rior  stepped  forth  into  the  In    I: 
«•">  "-1  comely  to  look  upon;  ho  wore  a  „d  plume,  standing  Loight Tp 


\!k\ 


28 


THE  SUN  PALLS  INTO  THE  WATER. 


from  his  head;  and  he  had  always  worn  such  a  plume.  He  had  never  yet 
been  on  a  war  path,  but  he  was  brave  and  good,  and  n.ueh  beloved  amon. 
Ins  people.     He  said  :  "  I  will  go  in  seareh  of  the  place  where  the  sun  goe: 

wLjont:- '"''' '''''''-' '''-''  -'^'-'^^  ^^  -^^-p^^  ^ 

At  these  words  there  arose  a  great  shout,  such  a  one  as  was  heard, 
when,  a.  the  days  of  old,  the  rod  of  the  prophet  had  stood  upright,  no  more 
bending  eastward;  and  the  warriors  and  sages  cried:  "  Let  him  go,  and  get 
a  name  that  no  Chah-tah  has  ever  yet  earned."  For  when,  among  L 
thoctaws,  a  young  man  desires  to  do  something  adventurous  for  glory  his 

;;;' r  r'\  Tr'^'-  ""^^  ^'^  "^^^^^  ^^  ^'^^  >-"=  --'  -^  his 

^hothed  and  all  the  women  wept  and  said:  "Why  have  they  tempted 
tins  youthful  warrior  to  go  upon  so  dangerous  an  errand  ?" 

The  Choctaw  heeded  not  their  tears.  He  stepped  towards  the  venerable 
speaker  and  took  his  hand,  then,  pointing  to  the  sun,  and  tracing  his 
finger  along  the  heavens,  said  :  «  I  will  follow  his  course  until  I  reach  the 
place  of  his  going  down."  He  spoke  no  more,  but  raised  one  keen  lon^ 
whoop,  and  departed ;  and  from  that  time  was  never  seen  again  upon  the 
ball  ground,  or  in  the  dance.  The  youth  had  the  first  name,  that  which  he 
received  from  his  mother,  and  had  no  other.  Every  Choctaw  must  earn 
a  second  name  by  some  brave  act,  and  this  is  a  war  name,  without  which 
he  IS  not  privileged  to  marry.     But  the  young  warrior  had  a  betrothed. 

Years  went  by,  and  he  came  not.  The  sage  who  had  tempted  him  to  .^o 
on  this  journey  was  dead,  and  those  who  had  listened  to  his  words  in  the 
council  were  all  gone.  The  people  of  his  own  age  died  too;  even  the  little 
children  that  had  seen  him  were  all  dead,  and  buried  in  the  mound  on 
whose  top  were  fires  continually  kept  up,  by  warriors  who  were  selectdfl 
for  that  sacred  office.  He  was  no  longer  thought  of;  his  very  name  was 
forgotten  by  all  save  that  betrothed,  who  still  lived. 

One  day  there  came  a  stranger,  an  aged  man,  with  form  bent  and  wearv 
ooking.     His  long  hair  was  white  as  snow.     He  carried  in  his  hand  a  staff 
to  support  his  failing  steps.     No  one  knew  this  warrior.     It  was  Ok-la-no- 
wa ;  "  a  traveler  among  the  nations." 

He  went  to  the  same  spot  from  which  he  had  departed,  where  had  stood 
the  aged  sage  who  tempted  him  to  go.  He  rested,  at  mid-dav,  beside 
the  council  fire  Chah-ta,  the  prophet,  had   kindled.     The  people  ^-au'iered 


4 


Tine   SUN   FALLS   INTO    THE   WATEI,.  gO 

atom  him,  so  strange  was  his  ai,,,caranco.  Wl.ei,  hn  ln,l  I„  I    , 

all,  I.C  sa,v  no  one  there  ho  kml      lU  ,  ""^  "P™  "'™ 

a.Kl  wept.  a,K,  tho  Choct     •    J  t'od     o  '^r"  '^'^1  T  '"™'  ™""^ 
Soon  ho  aroso  a„d  sai.I  ■  '^s  tho'ron  .         "'"''''  '""'  '"=  ^P'""="' 

and  tcK.1.  his  hand     lid  sh      .''  T  '""''''  "«"''  '"'^  Wmsolf, 

ribos.    IIo  tied  „  1°       ,  '     ""  """^  ™''"e  "*  ™d  "-••■•go 

ntan,  of  .M'^hel.^t    Ir'^haT  T'  TT*'  "  '"^  ™''  "^ 
«™re,  hnt  amidst  all  his  tH    ,  „I  ,  "'°''  "'"''*'"?'  o"^"  »"'' 

followed  the  eourse  ^tho !„;  '"  """  "°"'"  '"»  ''''-■'^■-  '>« 

peo^:\,;i'::t::;:;:::Lnr>:i;t::r^^^^^^   "^  --- '°  '■■■' 

of  the  people  among  whom  he  hadbr     .  ™  "^  "'"  •=''^'""' 

own,  dwelling  on, he  eourre  he, !,,,,'  ';". '='""l""-'=''  "-■"with  their 

'0  .«ov  hiriihert.  ::r  ttere:rr:r :;r  ^"  -- ''- 

iiut  Ills  story  was  drawin"-  fn  i  nlr^^n.  r 

.'"»:nhrcil::::;^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

"o-wa.    He  stood  ereet;  his  els  ,ir«    ,'       T"    r     "  ™'^  °'  °"'^- 
conntenance.     He  turned  to^  '     '"'°'"  """'"""""  ''™"'='i  ""  I- 

10  a  high  mountain    r!!  .       ,"°"  """■     "  ^'  '•■"''"  ™'^  '"='  " '  -"» 

-™  rai^down  :TiC2  r]^::;:;:;:^^'^^' '  r^  -^- 

place  of  the  going  down  of  the  sun      '  "''"*"'"'  ""^  »<»"  "'« 

1.0  oeair:: ::::;:  ""'^' """  "•^"'' "'  ™'-  "-"«•  ^  "=»  "«^  lepanod  as 
i.o.i:/::t:."':,:::::v";',r'*t  "■"''■ '•-™""''-  ^'-"^'--^ 

.narried,  it  wlrhe      i    ,\"t     7^''"'''  '""'  '"■•""  »"»  "»'"  — 
.noun,  them.  '  ^  "'"'=■     ^'"^^  '"""  "o  "''""ons  left   to 


50 


THE  SUN  FALLS  INTO  THE  WATER. 


At  the  end  of  twelve  moons,  as  was  the  custom  with  the  Choctaws,  all 
the  people  assembled,  men,  warriors,  and  women.  Then  the  sages  talked 
eloquently  of  the  dead.  They  extolled  the  acts  of  Ok-la-no-wa.  The 
adventures  of  his  life  were  told,  and  how  he  died  as  he  ceased  to  speak  of 
them. 

This  is  all  we  know  of  that  bold  traveler,  who  journeyed  imtil  he  saw 
the  place  where  the  sun  goes  down  into  the  great  salt  sea,  and  it  is  why 
the  Choctows  say  hush-i  a'  o-ka  tu-la  (the  sun  falls  into  the  water),  when 
they  would  express  the  close  of  day. 


Two  Indian  traditions,  which  I  have  received  from  the  mouth  of  an 
educated  chief  of  the  «Chah-tah"  nation,  are  blended  in  this  tale.  One 
relates  to  the  migration  of  the  people  to  the  east;  the  other,  the  story  of  an 
adventurous  warrior,  is  probably  of  an  earlier  origin,  and  was  intended  to 
perpetuate  the  knowledge,  in  some  way  acquired,  of  the  existence  of  the 
Pacific  Ocean.  In  expressing  sunset,  as  the  Chah-tahs  do,  by  saying  that 
the  sun  passes  down  into  the  sea,  there  seems  to  have  been  something  like 
design  to  sink  the  knowledge  of  the  fact  into  the  idiom  of  the  language, 
and  at  the  same  time  placing  it  at  a  good  remove  from  any  immediate 
obliteration,  likely  to  take  place. 


ChoctawH,  all 

sages  talked 

no-wa.     The 

to  speak  of 


until  he  saw 
nd  it  is  why 
vater),  when 


lonth  of  an 
tale.  One 
'  story  of  an 
intended  to 
ence  of  the 
saying  that 
tiething  like 
e  language, 
'  immediate 


!• 


n 


sc 


tu 


H 


«A1JVT    ANTIJONY^S   FALLS. 


Fatheh  IlENNEPm  named  after  liis  patron  saint  these  falls.  All  travel- 
er,s  since  his  time,  have  been  impressed  with  their  beauty;  though  at 
lirst  there  is  little  of  grandeur  associated  with  the  emotions  that  agitale'the 
beholder.  The  width  of  the  river,  the  progressive  descent  of  the  water 
the  presence  of  the  fair  islands  that  lie  in  their  rich  beauty  amon.^  the' 
rapids,  produce  a  repose  of  enjoyment,  rather  than  the  surprise  one  would 
expect  to  feel,  when  looking  upon  a  scene  so  truly  sublime. 

Long  before  the  falls  are  visible,  and  the  roar  of  the  busy  waters  is 
heard,  the  mind   is  prepared  for  something  grand,  it  may   be   terrific 
Approaching  nearer,  the  dashing  of  the  waves  is  more  distinct;  nearer 
and  we  hear  them  whirling  over  the  immovable  rocks  and  the  swayin-^ 
branches,  when  there  is  no  more  to  be  imagined;  for  the  scene  upon  which 
we  longed  to  look  is   before   us,  the  wonderful  work  of  the  Almic^hty 
When  we  remember  how  far  are  the  journeyings  of  these  noisy  waves 
even  from  the  bosom  of  the  fair  Itasca  springing-how  they  trace  their 
course,  by  rock  and  prairie,  bending  their  way  among  countless  islands, 
and  around  the  highest  bluffs,  until,  leaving  the  scene  we  are  witnessing 
they  go  on,  never  tiring,  never  resting;  when  we  look  beyond,  fancyiir^^ 
the  boundaries  to  the  extending  plain,  where  the  long  grass  is  bowino-  like 
the  river  waves,  but  more  gently,  with  the  wind  that  is  passing  over  them- 
when  we  say  to  these  waves.  Whence  go  ye?  and  to  this  ocean  of  grass,' 
Where  is  thy  limit,  and  whence,  and  whither  go  those  who  have  been  thy 
masters  for  untold  ages?_then  we  recognize  the  sublimity  of  the  Falls  of 
baint  Anthony,  of  which  we  were,  at  the  first  moment,  unconscious. 

Tradition  has  interwoven  its  charms  with  the  natural  attractions  of  this 
Hcene.  The  Daccita,  even  to  the  latest  moment,  when  his  feet  were  permitted 
to  linger  near  "  the  laughing  waters,"  felt  there  was  something  holy  in  the 


32 


SAINT   ANTIfOWS    FALLS 


Hpot  where  Anpotu  Sapa  ("  the  dark  day")  s„„g  her  death-son.      Ifer  hun- 
band,  a  «kdful  hunter,  for  a  tin.e  bronyht  no  other  wife  to  his  lodge.     Once 
-hen   he  band  to  which  he  lx.lon,ed  was  encan.ped  near  the  Falls,  he  weni 
w.th  0  hers  some  little  distance  above,  to  hunt.     While  there,  motives  of 
interest,  and  the  wish  to  be  allied  to  a  powerful  fanuly,  and  a  desire  to 
increase  Ins  nnportance,  by  having  two  women,  instead  of  one,  to  anticipate 
every  w.sh,  and  to  perform  the  services  required  in  the  lodge,  induced  hiu. 
to  marry  a  second  wife.     Customary  as  was  the  practice  of  having  several 
wives,  the  hunter's  conscience  severely  reproached  him;  for  he  had  often 
prom^od  Ins  young  wife  that  he  would  give  her  no  rival,  that  she  and  her 
chdd  should  ever  possess  his  entire  affection.     Thus  he  was,  in  a  measure 
prepared  for  the  extreme  grief  with  which  The  Dark  Day  witnes.sed  the 
.ntroductjon  o    a  bride  to  the  lodge.     This  was,  after  a  short  indulgence, 
.ostramed;  and  the  sad,  quiet  woman,  resumed  her  usual  occupations  ;mor 
affochonately  than  ever  tending  the  little  boy  when,  his  father  dearly  loved 
The  hunting  party,  laden  with  deer  and  buffalo,  prepared  to  return  to 
the,r  homes.    When  they  reached  the  Falls,  the  women  secured  their  ba^^a^e 
and  canoes,  and,  bending  with  their  heavy  burdens,  slowly  made  theirTor^t- 
age.     1  he  men  lingered,  occupied  with  the  passing  interests  of  the  day 
Travehng  m  detached  groups,  they  were  mindful  only  of  what  was  presented 
to  their  viszon  at  the  time,  for  Indians  generally  submit  with  calmness  to 
what  IS  irrevocable,  and  they  rarely  take  thought  for  the  morrow.     The 

an^horT'r    '  ^l^^^'^^^^' ^■^■^"^' ^^''-^  being  observed,  separate  herself 

and  her  boy  from  the  others.    She  took  him  in  her  arms,  and,  springing  into 

her  canoe  paddled  towards  the  island  that  lies  in  the  middle  of  tie  river 

After  landmg  here,  she  arrayed  herself  in  the  most  becoming  manner;  the 

crown  of  eagle  leathers,  that  she  wore  as  a  bride,  adorned  her  head;  many 

rows  of  wampum  rested  on  her  bosom;  the  embroidered  cloth  that  encircled 

her  looked  gayly  m  the  noonday  sun.     Her  heavy,  tear-dimmed  eyes,  were 

fixed  upon  her  httle  boy,  as  she  adorned  him  for  the  sacrifice.     Well  she 

knew  the  gnef  his  father  would  feel,  when  he  should  learn  his  loss-  but 

we  Ij  too  the  mothers  heart  within  her  knew  that  many  shadows  darken  a 

child  s  ix.th,  when  the  brightness  of  a  mother's  love  is  withdrawn  from  it 

So  she  arrayed  him  as  a  brave  and  gallant  warrior,  and  put  in  his 
hand  his  bow  and  arrows.  All  was  ready,  and  she  entered  her  canoe;  placin. 
the  child  where  he  would  be  most  conspicuous  to  the  eyes  of  him  vL  hud 


"""^ytf  im 

^^^^Kfi^jM    if  1 

■ 

Hp  m 

^V4  ih 

^^^^HBh^hb 

. 

HA  I. NT    AXTHONV'S    FaM,h. 


83 


hofravcl  Ihm-  tr.nt  in   the  pro,ni«o,s  nm.lo  hor,  durko.uny  hor  day  in  the 

jovouH  Hcnsoii  of  life. 

A  chil.l,  with  its  n.othor,  feels  no  fear;  the  little  one  looke.l,  n„  doubt 
with  dd.^n.t  on  the  bubbling  waters;   accustomed  to  the  dasbin.-  of  the 
Hpray  and  tbo  foam,  and  to  the  roar  of  their  ncver-coaHing  llow^  he  felt 
that  excitement  and  enjoyment,  so  often  observed  in  children,  when  any 
tbmg  unusual  in  nature  calls  forth  their  admiration.     Yet  bis  attention 
must  soon  have  been  arrested  by  the  voice  that  had  so  often  hushed  him  to 
sleep;  ,t  rose  m  swelling  notes  above  the  din  of  the  waters,  as  the  canoe 
heaved  from  side  to  side,  guided  in  its  forward  course  by  the  skilful  hand 
of    he  smger;  while  words  of  death  and  the  far-oft'  land  of  souls  mingled 
with  it  all.  ° 

The  Indians  on  shore  were  attracted  by  the  song.     They  saw  the  mad 
intention  ol'  the  broken-hearted  woman,  for  many  friends  had  reasoned  with 
her  in  thus  yielding  to  a  foolish  sorrow,  observing  her  continual  gloom. 
Ihere  was  no  time  to  doubt  her  determination;  for  with  every  note  of  her 
death-peal  the  slight  canoe  verged  nearer  to  the  awful  gulf,  in  which  she 
and  her  child  must  soon  be  entombed.     Her  husband,  frantic  with  grief  ran 
along  the  shore;  he  called  to  her  to  turn  her  course,  tossing  his  arms  in'  the 
wildness  of  his  anguish.     Ah !  was  not  The  Dark  Day  avenged,  when  she 
.saw  him  leave  the  side  of  his  new  wife,  calling  her  back  to  the  place  she 
had  once  occupied  in  his  heart !     Who  but  the  Great  Spirit  can  unlock  the 
secret  treasures  of  the  soul:     Once  more,  her  voice  gathering  its  last  ener- 
gies, peab.l  forth  its  own  knell ;  once  more  the  child  raised  his  form   in 
terror  now,  m  tbo  canoe,  and  tlu>y  passed  forever  from  mortal  sight 

It  was  a  holy  place,  to  the  last,  reader!   to  the  Dac.Ua,  as   he  stood 
watching,  .t  Saint  Anthony's  Falls,  the  last  gloamings  of  day;  for  here' 
wanders  often  the  soul  of  the  forsaken  wife.     Sometimes,  from  the  white 
loam,  the  spirit  of  a  woman  arises,  resting  lightly  on  the  waters.     She  turns 
a  sad  look  towards  the  green  prairies,  where  once  was  her  happy  home 
She  folds  her  inflmt  to  her  bosom,  and  disappears.     Sometimes  an  elk  and  a 
awn  stand  on  the  shores,  drinking  of  the  cool  waters,  and  wandering  amon^- 
10  rocks  and  trees.     They  are  The  Dark  Day  and  her  child,  permitted  b^ 
he  Keeper  of  the  Souls  of  the  dead  to  come  again  among  scenes  where  once 
t  -oy  lived  ;  where  they  sufleved,  too,  and  died.     Often,  at  the  breakin-v  and 
f'«)se  of  day,  the  waters  descend  ino.v  quietly,  and  nature  is  hushed,  listen- 


84 


SAINT   ANTIIONY'H    FA[J,H. 


ing,  as  it  wore,  t..  tlio  Hwoet  notoH  of  tho  npirit  of  the  injure.]  wife,  who  thus 
ree.,r(lH  the  faithfuh.cHH  uf  her  own  love,  and  the  i..eoi.,stancy  of  her  huHh.u.d. 
The  Indian  nuiideuH  oonie  no  more  now  to  the  hiinkH  of  Saint  Anthonys 
FallH,  to  hear,  from  the  aged  wom..n  of  their  triho,  ntories  of  lovo  and  of 
romance.     Never  again  will  the  ehiefs  of  the  I)ac(5ta.s,  and  the  Sacs,  and 
Foxes,  and  Chippewas,  meet  here  in  solemn  coinicil,  or  in  awful  conllict 
Oh!  that  Home  historian  would  arise,  and  depict  the  scenes  of  Indian  lifo 
that  have  been  enacted  on  this  spot !     There  is  no  tapestried   puintin'^  to 
charm  with  its  coloring  the  curious  in  Indian  lore.     There  is  no  voice  IVom 
the  dim  past  to  record  how  toiled,  and  suflered,  tlie  early  fathers,  who  came- 
to  instruct  the  red  men.     The  latter,  powerful  then,  stood  in  their  path,  and 
warned  of  dangers  untried  ;  of  the  arrow  and  the  spear,  and  of  the  f.ery 
stake,  and  of  the  demons  of  the  water,  that  had  conspired  to  destroy  the 
men  who  came  to  bring  a  new  religion,  where  only  the  Great  Spirit  had 
been  worshipped,  from  the  creation  of  the  world.     The  little  that  we  know 
assures  us  that  the  good  men  strove  to  turn  the  savages  from  a  course  of 
life  that  will  only  die  with  them.     Civilization  has  been  draining  away  their 
numbers,  until  at  last  our  aborigines  have  forever  turned  their  steps  from 
the  scene  upon  which  we  have  been  lookiii"-. 


I  wifo,  who  tints 
ofltor  liiiwhiiiid. 
Saint  Aiitliouy'H 

of  lovo  imd  of 
1  tlic  Sacs,  and 

nwl'ul  condict. 
<  of  Indian  life 
it'd  painting  to 
«  no  voice  IVoni 
horn,  who  cauu; 
their  path,  and 
1(1  of  tho  fiery 

to  destroy  the 
'eat  Spirit  had 
!  that  we  know 
om  a  course  of 
ling  away  tlieir 
leir  Htejjs  from 


It    PI  til 


\ 


\, 


>i 


li 


m 


^ 


t 


^4 


ir. 


if'- 

':  i: 

- 

« 


INTEIIVIEW    OV    MASSASOIT    WITH 
THE    PI  L  GUI  MS. 


"I  CANNOT  cill  the  deud  again  to  life,"  were  the  wordH  of  an  Indian  as 
^vlth  pathetic  voice  he  lamented  the  present  condition  of  his  race,  and  com- 
pared It  with  the  former,  in  more  glorious  times.  Were  it  possible,  how 
much  would  wo  learn  of  startling  interest  concerning  those  who  came  from 
alar  to  make  a  home  upon  these  shores,  as  well  as  of  those  whom  the  wan- 
derers found  in  possession  r.[  the  lands  they  coveted.  It  is  only  here  and 
there  a  gleam  of  light  we  catch  of  this  as  we  strain  our  eyes,  lookin-  into 
the  dim  distance  of  the  past.  Sometimes  it  is  a  false  ray,  misleading  us, 
whea  we  would  most  desire  to  be  guided. 

Sir  Francis  Drake,  in  158G,  arrived  in  New  England,  and  gave  it  the 
present  name,  or  that  of  New  Albion.  He  landed  in  the  territory  of 
Massasoit,  somewhere  near  Cape  Cod.  Afterwards,  in  1G20,  the  Pil-.rin.s 
came  there,  and  very  soon  made  a  portion  of  the  domain  of  this  celebrated 
Indian  their  own. 

Massasoit  owned  Cape  Cod,  and  a  part  of  what  now  composes  the  States 
of  Massachusetts  and  Khode  Island.  lie  was  a  most  powerful  sachem, 
though  peaceful  in  his  disposition,  and  was  resnected  and  feared  by  the 
tribes  that  acknowledged  his  sway.  He  moved  from  one  residence  to 
another  m  kingly  style;  his  favorite  seat  was  Mount  Hope,  an  eminence 
one  or  two  miles  east  of  the  present  town  of  Bristol.  No  doubt  the  beauty 
of  Its  prospect  allured  him  to  pass  the  most  of  his  time  there.  AH  has 
nnproved  its  natural  charms  since  the  day  when  Massasoit  held  his  court 
but  enough  was  there,  without  the  aid  of  art,  to  cause  the  chief  of  the 
Wampanoags  to  stand,  with  his  loving  people,  and  gaze  enraptured  on  the 
lair  scenes  that  lay  beneath  them. 

It  was  on  the  22d  of  March,  1621,  that  the  interview  between  Massasoit 


30 


w 


■*,. 


INTERVIEW    OE    MASSASOIT   WITII    THE    PILGRIMS. 


und  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  took  place.  The  sachcni,  accompanied  by  his 
brother  and  sixty  Indians,  advanced  towards  thorn,  sending  before  him  two 
other  Indians  to  annonnce  his  coming.  A  few  inexpensive  presents  from 
the  English,  purchased  liis  good-will-a  pair  of  knives,  a  copper  chain,  a 
jewel  for  the  ear,  and  a  pot  of  -strong  water."  Some  biscuit,  and  a  small 
portion  of  butter,  completed  these  tritling  gifts,  that  pleased  the  fancy  of  the 
great  and  good  Massasoit.  He  advanced  cordially  to  receive  and  welcome 
the  adventurers,  who  had  already  trespassed,  not  a  little,  on  his  rights.      ' 

The  warriors  that  accompanied  Massasoit  were  eai^er  as  himself  to  see 
more  of  the  men  who  had  so  many  rich  and  strange  things  to  show  then, 
The  English  approached  with  a  ^e^v  soldiers.     They  conducted  the  Indians 
to  a  house  where  preparations  had  been  made  for  the  reception.     A  -reen 
rug  was  spread  on  the  floor,  and  cushions  were  placed  for  the  sachenr  and 
his  attendants.     Martial  music,  the  trumpet  and  the  drum,  contributed  to 
the  nnposmg  eflect  induced  by  other  formalities.     A  most  congenial  and 
harmonious  spirit  animated  all  assembled.     Among  other  acts  of  courtesy 
the  sturdy  Pilgrims  and  bronzed  Indians  most  affectionately  kissed  each 
other.     Think  of  it,  reader!     Is  there  aught  in  the  novel  of  fashionable 
life,  or  in  the  pastoral  tale,  superior  to  it  ? 

On  the  part  of  Massasoit,  these  were  not  Judas  kisses.  He  remained 
from  this  interview  until  the  hour  of  his  death,  the  firm  and  unflinehino- 
friend  of  the  strangers,  though  often  receiving  injustice  from  them.  Mast 
sasoit  wore,  behind  his  neck,  a  little  bag  of  tobacco  that  he  « drank  •"  for  in 
those  days  smoking  was  called  drinking.  A  strange  mistake ;  the  nature  of 
the  indulgence  is  not  altered,  only  the  name ! 

During  this  interview,  the  brave  Massasoit-for  he  was  brave-trembled 
excessively  in  the  presence  of  the  white  men.  It  could  not  have  been  a 
personal  fear;  for  he  ever  loved  and  treated  them  with  kindness  Was  it 
that  over  his  soul  there  flitted  a  shadow  from  the  coming  doom  of  his 
people?  that  he  saw,  with  prophetic  vision,  the  day  when  tliey  would  be 
crushed  in  the  lands  given  them  by  the  Great  Spirit? 

Nor  was  the  j^ot  of  strong  loatcr  unnoticed  during  the  interview  The 
English  gave  it  freely,  knowing  the  end  it  would  accomplish.  Massasoit 
drank  a  huge  draught,  and  the  most  immoderate  perspiration  ensued  It 
was  the  first  time  he  had  tasted  it. 

"Am  I  not  Massasoit,  commander  of  the  country  about  me?"  said  the 


paiiiod  by  Lis 
(oforo  liiin  two 
prosontrt  from 
jpper  chain,  a 
t,  and  a  small 
c  fancy  of  iha 

and  welcome 
is  riglits. 
liniself  to  see 
J  8liow  tlioin. 
1  the  Indians 
on.     A  groon 
i  sachein  and 
ontributed  to 
ongenial  and 
I  of  courtesy, 

kissed  each 
f  fashionable 

le  remained, 
unflinching 
them.  Mas- 
mnk;"  for  in 
-he  nature  of 

G — trembled 
have  been  a 
5s.  Was  it, 
Joom  of  his 
iy  would   be 

'\iew.     The 

Massasoit 

ensued.     It 

J?"  said  the 


chief,  in 


INT.KViKW   OF   MASSASOIT  WITH   THE   PILURIMS. 
an  after  treaty  with  the  English.     How 


37 


his  importance  pass  from  him 


soon  did  his  power  and 

Never,  perhaps  lived  so  good  an  Indian ;  never  died  one  so  jnsHv  beloved 

The  us  or,  of  t  e  at.er  part  of  his  life  is  lost  in  vague  aecounts  of  taaUe  ' 

.n  wh,eh    he  splendid  inheritanee  of  .he  saehom  of^Monnt  Hope  ™     Tj' 

l..eee  b,  p.eee  to  the  Pilgrims.     There  were  the  beads,  the  kniv  s  „„d   " 

,»  0/  .>ro„,.,„>„  on  one  hand;  on  the  other,  the  ,„o  ntains,    he  p  e"tl 

..,.*a  Kae.  to  those  .ho  o.e„d  ^r  ^^  ^rde^lt;:  <:•:,  l^ 
to  a  Wampanoag  warrior,  "you  are  so  ,victed."     "Ood  ea^'t    estay    "" 
was  the  proud  answer;  "we  are  too  many."     Alas-  in  Hk   "   7 
Providence,  he  has  not  left  one  of  the  natio,^  that  ll      a^    ;/! ITZ 

Its  numbers  and  its  strength      Rqn.Vll,.  fi,.     t  j-  °^  a^^erted 

of  another  race  replaced  tm,  ^^ the  iTt    nL"r"^''^''  '''''  ''^^ 
parting  breath  :_  °^  ^'''  Wampanoags  drew  his 

"None  but  his  foes  to  see  him  die, 
None  but  his  foes  his  death  to  tell." 

FathTltZ^'n^'^-'^^'  """^"^  '■>«  -"-  -  whieh   the   Pii-riu. 
fathers  .md  the  noble  savage  enaeted  their  parts.    Observe  tl,„  P-| 

the  attttude  of  astonishtnent,  as  he  digs  from  the  earth  he  s  '"'"  '" 

ciUtivate,  the  whitened  bnne«  „f  '        "  '"mmcncing  to 

l-uried  w  th  h  m  lit  ;i  e  r  """'  f""  "'"'""'  "'"■^""^  -- 
resting  the  toys  its  weenr        ,  "'V'""""  "^ '"»  «''M|  on  its  bosom  still 

The  laborer  trjde'T"'""'  "'"'=' '°  ™"^^  "^  guardian  spirit, 
arrested  by  the  r  fleet;  Ld  7","''  ""  """^^  ''"'■  '"'  *-«'"-- 
old  one  fron,  wlnt  rs  !i„!s  V'^T  I""'"  ""  ""^  '"""'  "»  »  "-- 
to  gather  the  arro  v     h  ^  "  "^     ''"'""''^  '"'"'  ""  '"=  «"'"1« 

.l.«m  home,  to  Z    h  w  st  ol  I  '"  -"T  ™""'"''  """  "°  ""^  ->' 

good  Pt.yidenee  pM       d     llnd  ,  ™°"""  ".■■  "'^  '"'™""™'  ^"'  """■  » 
i..S  on,  he  passes  bv  hi  es      T  '  "™l'""""-»-    W"tob  bin,,  as,  travel- 

.uHaee's  th'e  Tfo^    We  t!^:;""''  '''\  ""f  '°*°""''  "™'-  "'^"^ 
taoms  masses  of  snow  r,,°;  ''""^^  P"''P'«  '^'""''»  '^»»ti„g  on  their 

inches  of  ever  ™   ■    ^e  h  '°'  ,"7"  "'"  '"'^  "''''^'  ™"  ""  ""^  ^-- 

K-..te.Lrti:^  i  rs^e:T„::%v'''" '---' ""-  -*-- 

o    S  feKies.     j.ook  at  him,  once  more,  as  he  sees  the 


38       INTERVIEW   OF   MAS8AS0IT  AVITII   THE    PILGIUMS. 

Havages  performing  idolatrous  rites,  from  which  ho  turns,  reverently  to  kneel 
and  worship  the  God,  whom,  to  worship  aright,  he  is  a  self-condemned  exile. 

In  all  the  difficulties  and  dangers  to  which  the  Pilgrims  were  exposed, 
they  had  one  unchanging  friend.  Massasoit  the  great,  the  rich,  the  eloquent,' 
loved  them.  Always  just  and  generous,  he  was  more  than  these  in  his 
dealings  with  them.  His  was  no  constrained  obedience— no  enforced  sub- 
mission. The  Pilgrims  were  weak— he  was  strong.  Yet  he  loved  them ; 
ho  would  not  harm  them,  when  he  had  it  in  his  power.  He  would  not 
permit  others  to  injure  them;  he  was  watchful  of  their  interests,  and  true 
to  his  own  pledges.  Americans  have  reason  to  be  proud  that  this  noble 
man  was  one  of  the  aborigines  of  their  country. 

The  Pilgrim  Fathers  needed  sympathy  when  they  were  afflicted  in  a 
strange  land.  Hardly  had  they  rallied  from  their  long  travel  over  the 
waters,  when  death  lent  his  horrors  to  the  many  hardships  that  lay  in  their 
way.  Graves  were  made  near  the  consecrated  rock  on  which  their  feet  first 
rested;  heavy  tears,  from  the  bereaved,  moistened  the  hard  soil  upon  which 
their  weary  footsteps  were  first  impressed.  Were  not  words  of  friendship 
and  kindness  acceptable  then?  Words!  nay,  acts;  for  God  raised  up  a 
true  friend  to  the  exiles  in  the  person  of  Massasoit-a  friend,  whoso  memory 
the  children  of  those  he  loved  and  assisted  should  regard  with  afiectioa  and 
with  reverence. 

Massasoit  was  especially  attached  to  Winslow,  one  of  the  Pilgrims, -who 
was  first  appointed  to  transact  matters  of  business  with  him.  "The  impe- 
rial governor,  Massasoit,  whose  circuits  in  likelihood  are  larger  than  England 
and  Scotland,"  (thus  wrote  one  of  those  who  came  over  in  the  May  Flower ) 
''descended  from  the  grandeur  and  dignity  of  his  position,  to  love  with  his 
whole  heart  an  adventurer  and  a  stranger." 

Once  the  sachem  was  ill,  and  blind  from  his  disease.  Winslow  visited 
him,  and  found  him  surrounded  by  friends  who  were  making  loud  and 
strange  noises,  working  charms,  and  using  all  the  means  common  amon-^ 
them  for  the  restoration  of  the  sick.  He  was  much  depressed  in  spirits" 
from  his  extreme  weakness  and  from  the  loss  of  his  eyesight.  They  told 
him  his  friend  Winslow  was  come  to  see  him.  He  offered  his  hand,  sayin- 
"Art  thou  Winslow?"  and  added,  «0h!  Winslow,  I  shall  never  see  thee 
again  !"  But  the  God  of  the  Pilgrims  raised  him  from  his  bed  of  suffering 
and  restored  his  eyesight.     So  true  was  he  to  his  English  friends,  that  they 


i»T«UV,KW  OK  MASSASO.T  W,TU  Ti.K  ..L.HUMS.  30 
could  .ot  but  bo  convinced  that  God  bi„„clf  l.ad  implanted  in  the  l,c„,,  „f 
»  heathen  «neh  g„„lne,»  and  virtue,  a,  a  Christian  n.ight  well  in.i  a 

Man^  of  the  children  in  the  United  States  have  never  he    d  1 '  r 

M»a.it,  ,et  the,  „.a,  .„n  the  p„,e,  of  their  cou„.;T,X  r->V 
find  a  e  aracter  a«  jnte^.ing.  The  life  of  .he  sachem  of  Mou,^  HoneT- 
charm  the  youth  that  loves  to  hear  of  the  brave  and  the  JZ  ^T^ 
passed  a«,.  Well  may  they  who  now  .ve,  on Xno  e  iStat  Z 
u.  their  hearts  an  admiration  for  the  virtues  he  possessed  and  a"  r^t  r 
remembrance  of  the  .indness  shown,  by  the  ,J  ..a  ^l^  l^tZ 

The  exact  time  of  his  death  is  not  certainly  known      li  n. 
Wbly.  in  the  year  ,0.0,    „e  lived  to  be  about  e^M^ars  If"'  ^^"■ 


\' 


I 


ii 
II '( 


i 

IJiflW 

1 

rUEIir.O    OF   LAGl/MA 


"J2  ■■'"„:'l':'"n"  !''"  '"'r'""'  "' "'°  '"''^^'"^  8ive.  ,1,0  name  u.  t„o 
|)"cl  lo,   or  town  tlmt  ov«rio„k»  it.     TI,.  Indian,  in  the  region  of  the  Ril 

ue  harrcn  ,,!„„„,  depen.hng  on  ga.ne  and  tl.c  wild  fruits  of  the  cartl,  fur 

;::';:r:: ""  --^  '-'^ '-"  ™™-- "- '"« '^■^  '■-  "«.vt; 

None  of  our  Indian  tribes  l.ave  made  equal  advance,  toward,  civilization 
wh  those     v,ngi,,  a  region  extending  three  hundred  miles  no  « 
G  la  E.ver  the  Reeky  Mountains  forming  its  eastern  toundary,  the  Color  1 
E   eron  t  e  west.     They  arc  called  Pueblo  Indians,  becaus^  they  i, 
llages  or  towns-the  word  «,n,ebl„»  meaning  town.    No  other  peopl    wi 
e  e..cep„„„  of  the  Aztecs  or  Mexicans,  has  ,x,sscssed  their  sk.  1  in  I'r^  1 
1  ,va  n,g  the  ground,  or  in  useful  occupations.     Their  semi-civilizatio;  " 
.tmet  from  that  of  the  southern  plateau,  and  is  considered  by  thote  who 
a  .  had  opportun,t.es  of  forming  c„r«ct  opinions  on  this  interesting  to 
US  peculiar  to  them  as  a  nation.  °     '^   ' 

of  tle°s'zr/,"':, '"'''""  "'■ ""  '""'■'' "' "'" "»°  °f "-  -ri-»t  visit 

ot  '"!,"  ''"'"''  ™'™'''™--     They  were  built  of  several  stories 

t    ften  more  than  four,  though  in  one  instance  as  high  as  seven      One 
u,c tu,.         surronnded  by  a  wall.     From  port-holes  i„°the  buillg,! 
l"-ople,  when  attacked,  shot  their  arrows  at  their  assailants. 

of  t^r"    r'      ?t"*' ''"°'"'"'  ""'"  '■"'''•'""'^  ■«  "•^^»"«"'  good  house, 

d .;:;::,'"";  '■'="'■:  "■""^'"  - «-  ^^^^^^^  -^  fair'chamberr ; 

ei   ;  ,  ,     :  "      "™""'  "'™'  -^^--"7.  call  them  "lofty  and 


fj 

1 

'■  % 

hIH 

MB 

1 

Hh 

rl 

WB 

42 


PUEBLO   OF   LAGUNA. 


On  the  ground  floor  of  the  Pueblo  Pintado  arc  flfty-four  apartments.  On 
the  name  floor  of  the  Pueblo  We-je-gi  are  ninety-nine,  while  in  another 
pueblo,  now  in  ruins,  there  were  one  hundred  and  thirty  rooms  on  the  first 
floor.  Many  of  the  rooms  are  very  small,  and  the  buildings  are  in  a  ruinous 
state,  yet  they  must  have  been,  at  another  period,  magnificent,  when  com- 
pared with  the  cypress-bark  or  buffldo-skin  dwellings  of  other  of  the 
aborigines. 

The  roofs  of  the  diflerent  stories  were  terraced,  and  upon  them  the  Indians 
slept  in  summer.  There  were  no  entrances  to  the  lowest  story  from  the 
ground,  but  there  were  ladders  on  the  outside,  by  means  of  which  they 
ascended  to  the  upper  stories,  where  were  doors.  The  ladders  were  removed 
when  there  was  reason  to  fear  an  attack.  Within  were  trap-doors,  leading 
from  the  secoiid  to  the  lowest  story.  There  were  no  streets.  On  the  ter- 
raced roofs  it  was  common  to  walk  entirely  around  the  town,  without 
meeting  an  obstruction. 

Castaueda  writes  of  the  convenient  manner  in  which  the  houses  were 
arranged.  There  were  places  appointed  for  cooking,  a  separate  place  for 
the  corn,  where  were  an  oven  and  three  stones  fixed  in  the  ground.  On 
these  stones  three  females  would  be  seated  to  perform  their  tasks.  One 
broke  the  grain,  anotiier  ground  it,  the  third  reduced  it  to  flour.  Before 
entering  there,  they  took  ofl"  their  shoes,  and  bound  up  their  hair,  covering 
their  heads.  While  they  were  working,  an  Indian,  seated  by  the  door" 
played  on  some  wind  instrument,  so  that  they  might  keep  time  in  their 
work,  singing  in  concert.  They  made  a  large  quantity  of  meal  at  a  time, 
preparing  it  afterwards  in  small  cakes  for  bread. 

For  the  construction  of  their  houses,  the  women  mixed  the  plaster,  and 
raised  the  walls.  The  men  brought  the  wood,  and  executed  the  carpenter's 
work.  They  had  no  lime,  but  made,  for  mortar,  a  mixture  of  ashes,  earth, 
and  charcoal.  The  walls  of  the  houses  were  not  thick.  In  preparing  thj 
materid,  they  gathered  rush  and  grass  into  heaps,  making  a  great  fire  T  and 
when  they  had  reduced  this  mass  to  ashes,  they  threw  in  earth  and  water, 
mixing  all  together.  This  they  dried  in  round  masses,  using  it  instead  of 
stone;  sealing  it  together,  so  that,  when  finished,  it  had  the  appearance  of 
masonry. 

The  duties  of  the  men  of  New  Mexico  were  to  labor  in  the  fields,  to  spin 
and  weave   their  blankets,  which  wore  made  of  cotton.     Their  vice  was 


PUEBLO   OF   LAOUNA. 
gambling,  which  thay  practised  in  the  "ertufas,"  where  they  nled^ea  their 

.^ot,;th:i:::--— r::— f^^^^ 

to  gather  in  the  harvest.  "^  assisted 

e.r'  """r  "'"'^!°''  ""^  '""•''''  "^'^''  "»  ""^'l'"'""'  ™»8  ".™      Their 
a„l  en  vo«b  were  gl„.«d  with  a  rninoral  M,l«tance,  and  they  h  "l  vase  Tf 
l.oaut,hd  .hape.,,  and  of  a  carious  style  of  worlc.     In  their  ,C      ! 
endent  that  use  wa,  .„t  alone  consulted;  and,  as  in  th  " ^^  ^    r " 
tl.e,r  ha,r  an    the  adorning  of  their  persons,  an  improved  tas.e  w^dZ   ye 

Son^e  d  the  paeblos,  oven  when  the  Spaniards  first  saw  them,  p™ 
a  rnnwus  appearance.  The  destrnction  of  one  of  them  anneared  ^1 
p>  ..oomplished  hy  the  aid  of  machines  nsed  in  war.  S Tans  .  ^ 
l.ke  nat.o„,  l,v,„g  on  the  pidn.,  of  whom  the  people  of  the  towns  Iv^ii 
constant  ten-or  (and  whose  name  means  "valiant"  ,  were  prohZ  'eU 
querors,  as  they  were  often  essaying  the  destrnction  of  other  town^  tIv 
were  not  always  successful;  for  experience  taught  their  adve"  .uies  foT^ 

ii:!i  i :« ■™- ,  ^''' ''°"'  '"^'""'°"'  °f  «'*  protest.::™  ,:^ 

am  ough  ,„  then-  nttercourse  as  nations,  the  Teyans  wintered  under  the 
-vans,  they  never  allowed  them  to  pass  a  night'within  then'Te      „ 

rLcc  """" "  '""""■ "'"' '"'-'" '"  "'^  -™'- - 

,lilf!f°.f"*''r  "*'"°''  "'"■'  '""'"  '""'  ■^S"^''  '"  "-  ''"r«™-  ."Hilary 
skdl  of  then-  dangerous  neighhor-s.     They  hnilt  thenr  in  elovLd  positi    f 

r  where  there  were  no  objects  to  intercept  the  view,  so  that  they ,"  1 1; 

^    to  observe  t  e  approach  of  an  enemy.     Cicuy^'was  built:;  „°a, 

ock,  and  formed  „  square.    Aenco  seems  to  have  been  one  of  their  mos 

markabe  towns;  its  chiefest  s.r-ength  was  in  its  situation,  remtv  d  Lm 

on   t!  e  country.     They  wore  long  garments  „f  doer-skin,  that  they  cut  out 
.V..1,  kntves  „f  stone,  and  sewed  with  needles  n.ade  of  tl  e  hone   Il'^dee 


'l 


44 


rUEBLO   OF   LAGUNA. 


liftiii 


The  only  entrance  to  Acuco  was  attained  by  a  path  cut  in  the  rock, 
beginning  at  its  base,  and  leading  up  into  the  town.  It  was  sufficiently 
wide  for  an  easy  progress  for  two  hundred  steps,  but  above  these  were  a 
hundred  more,  up  which  it  was  necessary  to  scramble,  resting  the  foot  in 
small  places  cut  in  the  rock ;  and  so  small  were  these,  that  it  was  hardly 
possible  to  find  a  secure  position  with  the  feet  alone.  The  Spaniards,  in 
their  ascent,  were  obliged  to  pass  their  arms  from  one  to  the  other,  while 
they  assisted  their  progress  with  their  liandb,  making  their  way  up  as  best 
they  might. 

At  the  termination  of  this  difficult  path  were  stones,  ready  to  be  rolled 
down  upon  the  Apaches,  or  other  enemy,  that  should  invade  them,  by 
attempting  to  force  a  passage  up  to  their  town.  Had  the  Spaniards  not 
first  visited  this  pueblo  by  invitation,  they  could  not  have  accomplished  the 
ascent,  against  the  will  of  the  people.  They  found  on  this  summit  ground 
sufficient  to  cultivate  a  large  quantity  of  Indian  corn.  There  were  also 
cisterns  in  which  to  collect  water  and  snow.  They  observed  the  Indian 
women,  by  long  habit,  easily  ascending  and  descending  the  rocky  stairway 
that  had  occasioned  them  so  much  toil. 

The  Indians  objected  to  seeing  so  large  a  force  as  the  Spaniards  presented, 
enter  their  city,  but  once  having  attained  the  heights,  the  visitors  held  the 
power ;  this,  the  simple-minded  but  intelligent  people  soon  perceived.  They 
proffered  their  conquering  guests  valuable  presents,  and  made  for  them  their 
inviolable  sign  of  submission— crossing  their  hands. 

In  some  portions  of  their  country,  the  Indians  of  the  pueblos  went  forth 
to  welcome  the  strangers,  making  many  demonstrations  of  pleasure;  escort- 
ing them  to  their  villages  with  the  sound  of  music,  of  which  they  were  very 
fond.  They  gave  them  materials  fur  clothing,  specimens  of  their  own  art  • 
beautiful  green  stones,  and  other  articles  of  the  highest  value  among  them! 
They  showed  them  the  tame  eagle,  and  the  serpent  in  their  houses.  They 
supplied  them  generously  with  food,  treating  them  with  great  respect  and 
kmdness.  When  Cabe(;a  de  Vaca  traversed  this  region  of  country,  in  the  year 
1536,  the  Indians  believed  him  and  his  companions  to  possess  the  miraculous 
power  attributed  to  their  gods.  He  said  of  them  :  -  They  thought  us  able 
to  cause  death  by  only  willing  it.  They  would  tell  those  whom  we  came 
among  that  they  should  retain  everything  and  conceal  nothing,  as  it  could 
not  be  done  without  our  knowing  it;  and  then  that  we  should  cause  them 


rUEBLO   OF   LAGUNA. 

45 

to  die ;  for  that  the  ,un  revealed  over^-thmg  to  us.    So  great  was  the  fear 
upon  thorn,  that  duru.g  the  first  d„,s  they  were  with  ua,  they  were  Z 
„>ually   rc,„hh„g,  w.tho„t  daring  to  do,  speak,  or  raise  their  eyes  to  tl 
eavens       Bu   the  reeeption  of  the  Spaniards,  on  their  subsequent  visits  to 
the  people  of  the  towns,  was  not  always  so  eordial.     Ones,  when  they  1  ad 
approaehcd  near  enough  to  a  village  to  hear  the  eonversation  within  the 
houses,    he  Indmns,  so  soon  as  they  we,,  aware  of  their  neighborhoo 
placed  themselves  ,„  battle  array,  armed  with  arrows,  elubs,  ali  shie  d  ' 
The  n,vaders  ordered  the  interpreters  to  propose  terms  of  submission      The 
Indians  rephed  by  drawing  a  line  upon  the  ground,  and  forbidding  them  to 
pass  ,t.     The.  valor  but  little  availed  them  against  the  more  deadlyweapo 
o.  the  Spamards.   After  retiring  a  short  time  for  eonsideration,  they  returned 
bcanng  presents;  submitting  not  only  for  themselves,  but  in  behalf  of  thei; 
provmee.     They  even  offered  their  villages  to  the  conquerors,  w!  ,  re      ly 
entered,  appropriating  all  they  found  to  their  own  use  ^ 

How  strange  a  country !  how  strange  a  people !     Among  the  mountains 
eser  s,  and  ravn„s,  ™ved  the  bear,  the  wolf,  and  the  cougar,  in  untamed 
erocty;  here,  too,  were  found  a  nation  whose  reputed  wealth  first  ent"ed 

irelTcT?,"'  r  '""*'"°"  °f  "''  """^  "'  "»™™'  »"d  com  r^ 
..vely  eulfvated  condition  of  society,  induced  even  the  cruel  and  avaricious 
Spaniard  to  pause  and  ask-"  Wlienco  are  ye  ?" 

This  peculiar  nation  attracts  the  eonsideration  of  the  scholar  and  of  the 
cunous  at  the  present  day.  Its  history  is  veiled  by  a  darkness  more  visible 
f  om  the  d,m  halo  of  light  that  time  has  left.  There  is  a  mystery  that  the 
pIulo«,pher  may  endeavor  to  unravel.  The  civilization  could  not  have 
come  bom  he  north,  the  south,  the  east,  or  the  west.  It  must  have  been 
planted  w,t  the  birth  of  the  nation,  growing  with  its  growth,  strength; 
eiung  w,  h  jts  strength,  striking  with  astonishment  the  first  Europeans  tl.at 
witnessed  .t,  and  existing,  though  perhaps  in  a  din.inished  deg  ee,  in  our 
wn  tune  Tell  the  secret  of  tl,eir  social  organization,  explain  their  syl 
l^ols  and  .be,r  customs,  interpret  their  faith,  chronicle  their  entire  history! 

™sh,p.     At  the  fme  of  Us  rising,  an  old  man,  standing  upon  an  elevated 
1  ace,  preae  ed  instructing  his  hearers  in  their  various  d:tiel     These 

Z^n         n7"'""f  '■"'""■""^"■-'""■t-J^  •'"'was  there  no  iucentive 
beyond  the  well-henig  that  always  accompanies  virtue? 


46 


rUEBLO   OF   LAOUNA. 


The  young  people  displayed  great  respect  for  the  opinions  of  their  elders. 
They  were  constantly  employed  in  occupations  promoting  the  general  good 
until  their  marriage.  They  brought  the  wood  and  piled  it  within  the  courts, 
whence  the  women  took  it  at  their  need. 

They  could  only  marry  with  the  permission  of  their  parents.  This 
obtained,  the  young  man  must  spin  and  make  a  cloak.  When  it  was  com- 
pleted, his  friends  led  him  towards  the  maiden.  He  threw  the  cloak  over 
her  shoulders,  and  she  became  his  wife. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  pueblos  appeared  to  be  flimiliar  with  the  custom 
of  speaking  by  signs;  they  thus  indicated  their  wishes  to  the  Spaniards. 
They  had  certain  dances  for  amusement.  They  had,  too,  players  upon 
musical  instruments,  and  singers  who  accompanied  them,  carefully  beating 
time. 

Some  of  the  women  wore  reputed  by  the  Spaniards  to  be  beautiful ;  they 
were  graceful,  and  had  good  complexions.  They  wore  large  green  stones  in 
their  hair.  The  Spaniards  called  these  stones  Turquoises;  but,  they  could 
have  been  nothing  finer  than  jade  or  serpentine.  They  ornamented  their 
garments  with  the  feathers  of  brilliant  birds,  brought  to  them  from  countries 
far  to  the  south. 

Castaneda  draws,  in  contrast  to  the  quiet,  industrious  life  of  the  people  of 
the  towns,  a  picture  of  the  wild  Indians  of  the  plains.  The  first,  remaining 
always  in  their  permanent  houses,  defended  themselves  from  danger,  when 
the  occasion  demanded— the  last,  living  in  buffalo-skin  tents,  wlJn  resting 
for  a  time  in  their  wanderings,  traveled  from  point  to  point,  for  purposes  of 
war  or  of  the  chase. 

The  wild  tribes  had  troops  of  dogs  with  them,  that  drew  their  ba-o-aao 
They  conversed  so  well  in  signs,  that  an  interpreter  between  them  and°  the 
Spaniards  was  hardly  required. 

Innumerable  buffaloes  traversed  their  country,  the  flesh  affording  food 
the  skin,  clothing  and  material  for  houses,  as  in  the  northwest.^  The 
Spaniards  were  amazed  when  they  first  saw  these  animals  in  vast  herds, 
crossmg  the  gloomy  deserts  and  passing  down  the  steep  ravines  to  the  rivers' 
to  druik.  For  many  leagues,  they  declared  it  was  impossible  to  see  aught 
save  the  heavens  and  the  bufHilo. 

The  wild  tribes,  unlike  the  people  of  the  towns,  made  no  provision  for 
the  future.     The  hunters  could  always  find  game  to  supply  their  families 


i 


rUEIJLO    OF    LAUUNA. 


lem  and  the 


witli  food,  and  thoj  had  beans  and  wild  plums  in  abundr 


47 


groat  considoratio^  for  U^r  ^^ZT '"! r"""""""'    ^^^^^  ^'^^^^^ 
savio-o  lifo      Tl.„  r       ,  Jaughters,  an  unusual  trait  in 

The  Teyan,  onoTf  M  '  "      ™°  »'•"''""■•"'<>''  wi*  fathers. 

they  ...kcd  out  .,.oir  CO  TeZ  :V°  o^aXIr  '  "°'  ™""-  ^""' 
willing  and  faithful  guides  of  th.  Z        ,     '  """''""«■     ^''"y '™'-" 

«.e  people  of  tho  to™  Ilr^r  r^ "lilt  1  ^ '■  T'"' 
the  Spaniards,  whom  they  helioved  to  l„  7  '"'"■'''"«'  »'  "'°  ^'t'l't  »f 
)»«s  that  fed  upon  .nen  n        ^  '°  ''  """^  '""^  "'™'— '»  '"^o  "Pon 

«eit2::.i::;r;r:rthr^  .^"""-'  ^■"  --  °^  -» 

hnntan  flesh,  .acifioin^to  pai  ted  s^      ,r""""'  ""  "'"  '"  '■•™  -'"» 
There  was  a  vorv  ],,.!    '  ,    °'' '""^ ''"""S  »'=™"-<!ra  in  theirtribes. 

victims.     They  lived  in  plaees  diffiouU  of  ,!!        /        °  """"  """""^ 
dwellings  the  bones  of  thL  elmL       Til  7'""  '"'""''  ""'' 

greatest  nnmber  was  not  o,^r^l^lZ'7  7::         '  ™""'  "" 
The,  located  their  villages  so  that"  ^  wj  d    L7;?-'"""'' 

ravines,  across  which  they  eould  call      At    h!    v  , ,    ?  ^  ""™""' 

—  and  sal,  forth,  L  attacMi^  atd  Lttr  JZe^  "™" 

.e^xrt^rtZt^-r^tzs:;^:^^^^^^^^ 

d«rt  a.  leading  a  most  singular  and  fn.erestin"  eo    ^  Tf  hf      ^  " 
parn.^  emhraced  the  Roman  Catholic  religion,".,:;  a,:'   t;.,,!:;';,: 
.ts  utes,  ancent  ceremonies  and  traditions  of  their  own      Ti.JV    T 


II 


Till:    GAME    OF    rLlJM-STONES. 


doling  men  and  women  play  often  to^oth.r     n        r  ..     7  ' 

t.iken,  or  some  such  warlike  achievements 

a".l  medicine-sack  oH l!;"  ^1  e  iT'  '  "^  ?^"  ^^'^^  ""^'^^""''""^•^ 
f..l  to  procure  the  presonc;  o  ^od  a^Ht^  1T"-"'"  '''  '''''''''''  ''--- 
tlutt  would  do  them  harm.  '  """''  P'""*^^^^'""  ^^-"  •■^» 

The  Indians  are  devoted  to  gambling.    When  bron.hf  f»        , 
they  learn  readily  what  to  do  with  a  pack  T  a  d       '  ""      '"  "''"^' 

tricks  of  all  kinds  ^  ^  '  ''"'^  '""'^  '"°»  ^-^P^rt  in 

wmner.     lluis  it  is,  when  games  of  chance  are  resorted  to  in  ih  • 
country.     Their  mosf  vnl-oW       i-  i  Jtsorttti  to,  m  their  own 

y  uirection.     Ihe  game  can  bo  plajed  by  a  dozen, 


Ill' 

I 


r.o 


TIIK    (JAMK    OF    I'l.  r  M-STONKS. 


or  by  any  less  iiiiinbor  of  poi-HoiiH,  as  inny  Ih;  convenient.  The  plinn-t-loncs 
iiMoil  nre  curved  with  (hdorent  nf,Mir('M  and  devices,  oiieh  denoting;  a  certain 
nnndter  in  vahie.     There  are  five  .setH,  eiich  .set  containinf,'  eight  [lieces. 

Great  in>,'ennity  is  shown  in  carving  the  devices.  On  one  is  the  war 
oagle;  unotiier  has  on  it  a  tnrtie,  representing  the  eartli.  11',  in  throwing 
the  .stones,  tho.so  upon  which  iin;  cut  the  war  eagle  and  the  turtle  fall  up- 
wards, the  game  i.s  won.  The  hullalo,  inuskrat,  and  chicken-hawk,  are  alno 
carved  on  the  stones,  and  Home  of  the  fetones  are  hhudiH.  The  first  one 
having  thrown,  the  bowl  is  passed  to  the  second,  who,  in  the  same  niannei-, 
throws  for  luck;  then  the  third,  and  coon,  until  each  one  1ms  had  his  or 
her  turn.  When  all  have  thrown,  the  one  who  has  the  greatest  numk-r,  as 
designated  by  the  figures,  is  the  winner.  It  may  bo  doubted  if  the  love  of 
gaming,  with  any  other  people,  exceeds  that  with  the  Indian.  In  his  igno- 
rance nuiy  be  found  some  excuse  for  Ids  devotion  to  un  amusement  so 
childish,  engrossing,  and  u.seless. 

Some  of  the  games  of  chance  played  by  Indians  are  far  more  intricate 
than  the  game  of  plum-stones;  and  no  one  who  has  not  been  a  witness  can 
conceive  how  every  faculty  and  feeling  becomes  absorbed  in  the  play.  Hour 
after  hour  will  pas.s  unheeded;  the  prizes  increase  in  value  the  longer  they 
are  contested;  and,  besides  the  gain  to  be  derived  by  the  winner,  there  is  a 
rei)utation  for  skill  to  be  enjoyed. 

The  Dacota,  next  to  bravery,  ranks  cunning.  He  boasts,  in  his  long 
speeches,  of  having  often  outwitted  his  enemies— of  having  deceived  animals 
l)y  setting  skilful  traps— and  even  of  having  fooled  the  spirits  he  worships, 
when  out  on  a  war  ur  hunting  excursion.  So  that  it  is  no  small  advantage 
to  i)o,s.sess  a  character  lor  craft  and  skill,  even  in  games  of  chance. 

When  there  is  no  skill  to  be  evinced;  when  the  game  is  decided  by  chance 
alone,  the  successful  player  is  considered  to  be  endowed  with  a  sort  of  super- 
natural wisdom.  There  is  nothing  that  an  Indian  will  not  pledge  when 
preparing  for  a  game ;  if  it  be  his  only  pair  of  moccasons,  or  last  article  of 
food,  he  will  lay  it  down.  Often,  when  the  gaming  is  prolonged,  the  excite- 
ment becomes  so  intense,  that  the  players  present  the  appearance  of  a  band 
of  fiends.  The  passions  exhibit  them.selves  in  their  dark  countenances— in 
their  cries  of  disappointment  or  of  exultation— in  their  eagerness  to  throw, 
to  venture,  it  may  be,  their  little  all  in  the  hope  of  gaining  so  much— in 
their  faces,  pale  with  the  utmost  anxiety,  or  flushed  from  the  same  cause. 


.semen t  so 


TilK  UAMi;  oi.    i'mj.m..sto\i.:m.  q^ 

to  attract  the  «tmi,gor  au.l  the  you..-  ii,  h,lls  iU.t  !     i  .*.        ""\''""'''>' 

•eiate  ...a.,-  a  .d  taU-  of  n.i..  tit.."  .V:!;:t;':';r'''  ""^  ^''^"^'  ^^^"^ 

It  iH  Ha.d  that  nowhere,  i„  Ch,i,stian  Ia.,clH,  in  the  nu...e  ofCo.l  so  li-htlv 

npoken    a,s  about  the   "a...i.i.'t,.M..       Tl  .  .  °      -^ 

.Iic'oIo,seH  his  reason  whtho  •       '  "     "^'''^  '''^''"  "^  ^'"'^''^   '"'^ 

naHon  when  the  game  is  near  an  i.sHue.     What  is  it  to  hi,,. 

'      ''^'  '--1  ;.;  love  and  reverence  the  nan.e  of  hi«  Ilea  e.;  Ft  ^ 

-»  .        Jiv,    <U1L.'.<   I(,r    n;U  Kilt       tut    tll(>    rriinwi  TP     1       •  1     i 

ac™«to„K.a  to  m,cl,  nwful  .ounil.,,  do„r  to  l„,,r  Ihoni 

Tin.,  „t  lc,„t,  never  occur,  will,  ti.e  I„di,„,     j:,,,,  „,„,„  ,,„  ^„  . , 

I"»  1.  "gu.gc  doc.  „ot  yid,l  l,im  m,  oath.     l(  there.  l,o  „  c„r.e,  it  „„        e 

..eater  tin,'r';i!'rr7''° "'',''':''  "'^  "■'""■'  "'"''■'"■"'  ""j  •>-!.".,  i.,,,,,.!, 

„  c,,le,  tl,.,„  ||,at  of  l„,  e,v,l„,e,l  l,„,ther,     Ue  uover  fail-  tl.c  op|,„rt,u,ltv 

at.>  of  the  Great  Sp,r,t,  or  any  of  the  fe  i„,p„r,ant  sod,.     Hi,  fa„ev 

,.or,t,  ,en,  then^h  it  he,  loves  to  rest  it,,elf  „,,„n  thenght,  of  hi,  relil  ' 

n    of ,  „  ™y„er.e,  connected  with  it.     A,  he  travel,  -°,„„,.  the  laKe,",; d 

of   n,  honu,  he  „  not  insensible  to  the  beauties  provided  for  hin, 

he  hsi,  s  Ins  p,pe,  „ne„ng  ,t  to  the  spirits  that  hover  there.     He  reeo ,e 

-7>v  e     a  sp,r,tua,  presouee.     The  ga.uester  h,  a  Cln-is.ian  ,a„d  1:1, 
.      .ethat  every  , die  word  he  utters,  is  heard  by  the  ear  of  Omninote,  e 
.M,«ht  ese.apn,«  Ins  alLpervaUing  presence.     I,  he  the  n.oro  careful  nor.: 

The  ago,;  Dac.5tas  thus  addrcs  the  children  about  them :  "Be  careful,  my 
.1"  Jien,   ,,  .speak  reverently  of  the  .spirits,  and  nunc  so  in  the  warn,    ban 
e  eoh    se,.on.     Fo,,  when  „„r  lahes  and  rive,-,  a,e  covered  wi  1,   ^ 
a".l  when  the  «,.ound  ,s  white  with  snow,  they  cannot  hear  what  we  s.' 


THE    GAME    OF    PLUM -STONES. 


our  voices  are  shut  out  from  them.  But  in  the  time  when  the  woods  ;ire 
green,  and  the  waters  flow  on  from  the  mountains  to  the  great  i-eas,  they 
hear  all  wc  say  of  them.  The  cars  of  the  water-spirits  ui-e  open  when  the 
ice  is  gone,  and  the  fairies  of  the  woods  and  of  the  rocks  are  ahout  in  the 
pleasant  time.  They  listen  to  us  as  Ave  talk  of  them,  and  if  we  oflend 
them,  they  will  bring  to  our  lodges  sickness,  and  bloodshed,  and  denth.  Be 
careful,  then,  my  children,  to  speak  reverently  of  the  gods  of  your  Nation." 


m 


iitni 


\ 


( 


i 


in 

j;ilP 

i  1.'  iBBBffK 


kne 
of'toi 
wan 

r 

Spai 

at  tr 

of  a 

'1 

they 

guidi 

Once 

so  gr( 

and  t 

restet 

cows. 

tlienif 

their 

So 

and  d 

small 

powde 

so  coo 

W 

and  tl 


HI 


SKINNUIG    THE    BUFFALO. 


The  pu^ture  represents  a  dead  bufihlo,  stretched  ou^,  re  ^  „n  his  fore 
knees,  wh.le  two  Indians  commence  to  skin  it,  at  the  bac.  ;,.  Women 
often  assist  .n  the  operation.  The  skin  is  divided  into  two  parts,  and  after- 
Avards  sewed  together. 

Three  c„,l„rk.»  ,,g„,  the  I„,lia„,  of  the  plain,  wore  ol«rved  by  (ho 
fepamari,  thu,  to  take  off  ,.,e  hUo  of  the  buffiUo,  and  to  cut  up  the  cares 
a    .ho  jo,„.,  .,th  the  „i„  of  a  piece  of  „.,.,  or  obsidian  attach  3*™; 

The  army  of  Coronado  were  amazed  at  the  inconceivable  numl«r  of  bisons 
they  met,  as   hey  marched  over  the  country  that  is  now  called  New  Mexico 
gu.de.^  or  rather  led  astray,  as  they  were,  by  the  Indians,  searching  for  gold 
Once  they  came  to  a  place  where,  in  their  efforts  to  escape  from  the  Spaniards 
so  great  a  nun.ber  of  buffaloes  fell  into  a  ravine  that  theyalnmst  fd I'ed  it  uft 
and  the  rest  passed  over  their  bodies.     In  one  place,  where  the  Spaniard 
resed  Meen  days,  they  U.led  fvc  hundred  males,  without  coun'ti,:    h 
cows.     So  e.c, ted  d,d  the  strm.gers  beconrc  in  the  chase,  that  many  lost 
hemsclvcs  rn  the  w«,ds,  and  were  several  days  without  being  able  to  tin 
then-  way  back  to  the  camp. 

Some  of  the  wild  tribes  of  that  period  ate  the  meat  of  the  buflalo  raw 

^^  dr.nk  the  bood      To  preserve  the  meat,  the,  would  cut  it  in  ve  y 

ml    pieces  and  dry  .  m  the  sun.     Afterwards,  the,  beat  it  almost  to  a 

ponder.     Ihus  prepared,  xt  swelled  greatly  in  the  boiling;  .  handful,  when 

«o  cooked,  made  a  meal  for  one  person. 

When  bufihloes  are  plenty,  the  choice  parts  are  selected  by  the  Indians 
and  the  remainder  left  for  the  wolves  •  but  wlmn  fl, .  ^'mians, 

wolves,  Dut  when  they  are  scarce,  every  part 


!!! 


ffl 

1 

lit 

iH 

1 

j       *! 

T  m^M 

H 

1 

m 

1 

54 


SKIN^•INU    THE   15U1-FALO. 


is  considerod  dainty  eating,  and  tlien  a  sort  of  soup  or  broth  is  made  of  the 
blood.     No  salt  is  used  in  preserving  the  meat. 

Mysterious  and  indissoluble  appears  to  be  the  link  uniting  the  fate  of  the 
Indian  and  the  buflalo.  Whilj  diflerent  tribes  once  roamed  over  and  owned 
the  entire  country,  vast  herds  of  the  latter  overspread  a  largo  portion  of  it, 
and  their  numbers  have  diminished  only  as  the  others  luive  wasted  and  dis- 
appeared. It  is  impossible  to  define  the  limits  of  the  range  of  the  buffalo, 
varying  as  it  has,  from  different  causes ;  yet  we  see,  by  the  mcnifon  made  of 
the  animal  by  old  authors,  how  immense  was  its  extent.  Early  New  England 
writers  tell  of  "  great  herds  of  well-grown  betlsts,  that  live  about  t\\o  parts 
of  liakc  Ontario,  such  as  the  Christian  world  hath  not  been  made  acquainted 
with."  They  were  met  with  in  Virginia  and  in  the  Carolinas.  Soto  saw 
none  in  Florida,  but  the  bison  appears  to  have  ranged  in  considerable  num- 
bers there  (through  Middle  Florida),  a  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago.  It  was 
considered,  in  171 S,  that  the  Spanish  garrison  at  Fort  San  Marcos,  on  a 
failure  oi  the  stores,  might  subsist  on  the  meat  of  the  buffalo.    • 

It  i'^  only  in  later  years  that  they  are  said  to  be  found  west  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  yet  there  is  a  tradition  extant  among  the  Indians,  that  they  were 
driven  thence  by  the  fires  that  devastated  the  plains,  sending,  the  buffaloes 
upon  the  prairies,  from  their  ancient  homes.  In  NewToundland,  in  the  year 
1578,  there  were  '"mightie  beasts,  like  to  camels  iir  greatness,"  yet  there  is 
no  proof  that  they  were  the  Bison  Americanus,  but,  possiblj^,  a  large  kind  of 
oxen.  Now,  they  are  found  in  the  region  of  the  Upper  Mississippi,  and  on 
the  prairies  of  the  Red  River,  still  farther  north.  A^ist  numbers  live  be- 
tween the  Missouri  and  the  Rocky  Mountains,  in  Texas,  and  in  New  Mexico. 
AVanderers,  like  the  red  men,  they  are  crossing  the  Rocky  Mountains,  making 
a  home  while  they  may,  on  the  vast  plains,  where  there  is  not  to  be  foinul, 
as  yet,  the  offei.-iive  presence  of  the  white  man.  Unconsciously,  as  they  go, 
they  mark  out  a  path  by  which  they  may  be  pursued  and  destroyed. 

Greatly  as  their  numbers  are  diminished,  one  can  hardly  realize,  from 
description,  how  grand  and  imposing  is  the  view,  when  the  hunter,  in  the 
open  air,  with  an  appetite  sharpened  by  great  ilvtigue  and  scanty  fo(jd,  is  in 
full  pursuit  of  the  animal  he  is  intent  upon  destroying ;  when,  suddenly,  he 
sees  dark  masses  of  thousands  of  buffaloes  pass  before  his  sight,  exulting  in 
their  freedom  to  roam  untrammelled  and  unseen,  striking  with  their  heavy 
hoofs  against  the  grassy  ground,  that  emits  sparks  like  fire  from  their  tread. 


SKIN  X I  \  G    T II E    n  U  P  l'  A  r.  () . 


55 


The  spectator,  witncssinj.  sncl.  a  .ccno  for  U^o  first  time,  doubts  its  roality 
and  fools  liko  one  ovortnkon  with  a  sleep,  that  is  mocking  him  ^vith  wild  and 
exlidarating  dreams. 

Wore  the  Indians  accustomed  to  calculate  for  the  future,  they  would  be 
alanned  into  the  question:  "What  shall  we  do  when  the  buffalo  is  no  more 
to  be  found  ?"  As  it  is,  he  boasts  of  the  numbers  that  go  and  come  at  their 
own  wd  .  It  is  in  keeping  with  his  own  views  of  society,  the  determined 
course  of  the  animal  in  fleeing,  as  civilization  advances  towards  him.  Stranoe 
that  ho  should  witness  sijch  numbers  of  these  animals,  madly  pursuin-^  thdr 
way  to  a  fearful  precipice,  over  which  they  will  dash  to  avoid  pursuit,  and 
not  be  reminded  of  a  destn,ction  that  is  surely  awaiting  his  race.  Such  a 
thought  must  have  entered  the  heart  of  more  than  one-vet  to  acknowled-e 
It  were  to  oflbr  an  insult  to  his  feelings  and  his  pride. 

There  is,  among  several  of  the  western  tribes,  a  tradition  of  the  bison,  that 
a  was  born  of  one  of  the  mighty  summits  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  that 
the  source,  from  which  it  is  still  prolific,  can  never  be  exhatisted ;  for,  when 
hey  seem  to  be  di.ninislijhg,  the  mountain  sends  from  its  depths  many 
thousands  of  buffaloes,  that  go  forth,  covering  the  prairies  and  linino.  the 
mountam  passes,  to  the  intent  that  the  Indians  may  be  fed  and  clothed  as 
they  have  ever  been.  - 

"For,"  said  an  aged  Indian,  «we  are  nothing  without  the  buffalo-it  is 
our  food,  our  raiment,  our  lifo.  ;/hen  there  are  no  moio  buffaloes,  there 
win  be  no  more  Indians." 


m 

M 


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be 
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fix 
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111' 


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tot 


THE    SCALl'    DANCE. 


TuK  |,„,,1,„„  |l,„t  woman  occu,,i,.,  „,„„ns  th.  savage,  „r  N,„H,  America 
»  »o  dosra,  ,„g  ll,„t  „.1,U„  i,c„i,lo  >v..„,,l  her  a,  a  mcK  servant,  WaH,,,,  by 

K.u,„l  on,oc,  n,  .1,0  ra,„il^.     As  a  ,vi,,  „„d  „,„.,,.,  „.„  „'„,    ^„„  J^  ^,^,^ 

bo  l,ko  horsolr,  slave,  to  a  tyranf,  wiil.     Yot  sho  l,as  a„  i„fl„„„oo-  and 
»o,„o,n„os  ,t  „  as  groat  „«  tho  injuries  sl,o  roooivos,  or  Iho  toil  sho  cuiuros 

„„,'■'  ''ir      '       ''"',""  ''"""■^  "'"'  ^'  >'°'^'''>  '■-  ->"«  -  -t  lor! 
go  ton      Tboro  sl.o  stands,  by  tho  soa,  looping  „vor  tho  body  of  somo 

botovod  ono,  who,  laid  „„„„  „,„  b„ro  rock,  has  boon  covorod,  not  with  tho 

ft  oarth,  bnt  w.th  stonos,  that,  pilod  upon  tho  oi^joot  of  hor  .oars,  hidos 

r.om  a  hornhlo  doath,  tho  prisoner  who  is  without  hope.  Wo  hear  hor  liit- 
-ng  up  hor  Yo.oe  to  weop,  as  tho  proud  and  eruol  stranger  wrests  fi-om  hor 
possesion,  for  his  own  uso,  the  articles  that  sho  has  ™ade  for  hor  fa.X 

victt  Z  !'r  "  •  '"""  '■•'■'  "  *°  """''"  '"  "  '""™  °f  — '-"'  «>"«•- 
V  cfm    for  whom  ts  propanng  tho  fiery  stake,  and  for  whom  are  whotled 

»ha,,,  „,s,ru,„onts  of  tortnro.     At  another,  wo  wa.oh  hor  with  hor  o „ 
l.an,o„s,  g„,J„,g  tboir  oanoe,  beneath  a  majestic  mountain;   thoy  pause 

but  sad  a  e  tho.r  vo.cos,  that  unite  in  „  lament  for  tho  dead,  who,  roposin- 
henea.h  tho  erm,son  clouds  of  evening,  have  almost  passed  from  th  m  m  ; 
o.  the.  warnorlrtonds  though  still  ohorished  in  tho  loving  heart  of  woma," 

of  death  .o-morrow,  feoblo  and  sliU  suflbring,  slio  is  again  at  work,  snb- 
m«.vo  to  tho  W.11  of  the  Great  Spirit  that  ,,.,  ordained  hor  to  sul.b   and 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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Photographic 

Sdences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  S72-4S03 


Uo 


58 


THE    SCALP    DANCE. 


^  Adorned  with  glittering  bracelets  and  strings  of  wampum,  she  is  placin-^ 
similar  ornaments  about  the  person  of  her  child.  But  a  little  while  and 
she  tears  her  garments,  as  from  her  eyes  foil  heavy  tears,  and  from  the 
wounds  she  has  made  on  her  arms,  flow  streams  of  blood.  She  takes  from 
the  cold  brow  of  her  babe  a  lock  of  hair,  by  which  she  will  one  day  distin- 
guish it  in  the  happy  land. 

Once  more  we  look  upon  her,  as  she  stands  relating  to  the  braves  who 
are  assembled  with  intent  of  war,  a  prophetic  dream.  She  tells  them  this 
vision  was  sent  by  the  Master  of  Life,  who  wills  not  that  they  should  ^o 
lorth;  and  their  countenances  darken  as  they  lay  down  the  spear  and  the 
shuiing  tomahawk. 

She  is  before  us  a  brido,  a  mother,  aiul  a  prophetess;  a  healer  in  sick- 
ness, an  attendant  on  the  savage  camp.  If  there  be  scenes  where  we  still 
see  her,  and  from  which  we  turn  shuddering  and  dismayed,  let  us  remember 
who  and  what  she  is! 

The  Daccltas  assure  us  they  are  under  the  most  solemn  obligations  to 
celebrate,  frequently,  the  Scalp  Dance.  The  women,  old  and  young,  put  on 
their  richest  apparel,  and,  having  assembled,  form  themselves  in  a  large 
ring.  Sometimes  the  scalps  are  carried  on  their  shoulders;  or,  they  are 
fastened  to  poles  three  or  four  feet  long,  placed  in  the  ground,  within  the 
circle. 

The  scalp  is  colored  with  vermilion  paint,  or  with  red  earth,  and  is 
gaudily  trimmed  with  ribbons,  feathers,  and  beads,  or  any  ornaments  at 
hand;  it  is  then  stretched  over  a  hoop. 

A  little  distance  from  the  circle  are  seated  the  musicians.     One  has  a 
drum,  another  has  a  notched  bone  in  his  lefo  hand,  that  rests  on  a  tin  pan 
Holding  another  bone  in  his  right  hand,  he  draws  it  over  the  notches' 
making  discordant  music.     The  musicians  are  jugglers  or  medicine  men. 

At  a  signal,  the  women  begin  to  dance.  They  press  shoulder  to  shoulder 
and  go  around  the  scalps  in  concentric  circles,  in  groups  of  four,  or  as  many 
as  twelve.  They  sing  in  time  with  the  medicine  men,  and  whenever  a 
stroke  of  the  drum  is  given,  each  woman  raises  herself  to  her  utmost  height 
The  same  step  is  preserved  throughout  the  dance-hopping  and  sliding  to 
the  left. 

After  a  period  of  dancing,  there  is  an  interval  of  rest;  during  which 
one  of  the  squaws  comes  forward,  and  in  an  energetic  manner  descdbes  the 


THE    SCALP   DANCE. 


59 


death  of  a  hu.sba.Kl,  son,  or  brother.  She  dwells  on  hi.  courage,  his  virtues. 
Ins  suffenngs.  Now  her  eyes  flash  with  the  excitement  called  forth  by  thJ 
stxx^ngest  wi.h  for  revenge;  but  soon  her  voice  fails,  with  remembrances  so 
«ad  fehe  ralhes-for  it  is  a  sacred  custom  in  which  she  is  engaged-spring- 
ing forward,  she  exclaims:  "Whose  scalp  have  I  now  on  my  shoulders  ; 
Then  the  women  join  with  her  in  raising  a  wild  shout,  and  they  form  again 
for  the  dance,  after  which  there  is  another  period  of  rest,  and  another 
woman  addresses  the  crowd,  in  mingled  tones  of  passion  and  of  woe.  A^ain 
a  fearful  cry,  and  once  more  begins  the  dance.  All  this  is  continued  until 
other  occupations  engage  the  attention  of  the  Indians.  Then  the  scalps 
are  either  buned,  or  placed  on  the  funereal  scaffolds  of  the  families  of  the 
warriors  who  took  them. 

There  are  many  Indian  dances  in  which  women  are  not  permitted  to  take 
a  part,  and  some  which  they  dare  not  witness.  Yet,  from  the  time  that  a 
woman  is  old  enough  to  marry,  she  exercises  a  power;  and  when  to  a  stron. 
will  she  unites  talents  of  a  high  order,  her  opinions  and  advice  are 
received  on  occasions  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  public  welfare 


I 


r 


I 


KSIUFAS. 


caul  ,  r  ,  '"'"'"  "'  ""'''  ""•^'"°  '-"»  -'"«"—  ™om., 
M. ,  f  "1  •■'""'»'''»  ";•""."•<•  "-'  --.  i"  «.oir  effects,  sudataic,  „ 
an  b.UI,».  riioy  wore  o..clu,!voly  allotted  to  the  men.  In  the  micUlo  of 
each  apartment  was  a  fn-o,  sufficient  ,„  keep  up  an  e,ual  d  oo  L 
vh.ch  wa.,  M  with  wiM  tl,,m„  and  dried  ,.J  The  f„™„  of  ho  L."^ 
voro  ether  round  or  ^qnarc,  and  of  very  unequal  din.endon.  T ,1  „d  i,^ 
vu,ch  wa.,  on  „  level  with  the  ground,  .a.,  ..pported  by  pine  ,m^Z 
the  pavement  was  of  smooth  stones.  J- 1   >e  piiiars,  and 

u,edTrtI.e*VrrT  "",""'""'"'  ''^"'°  Sr-uard.,,  ,1,0  ostnfas  were 
«  od  bythe  ,nhab,tanls,as  thoy  still  aro,  for  political  and  religious  purpose, 

b  rds,  and  p  ants  of  the  country.    Lieutenant  Simpson  visited  thorn  recently 
cea,npan,ed  by  an  Indian,  the  governor  of  the  town.     Ilosta  called  Zm 

,.«mbl  d  tl  ere  to  chant,  praying  f„r  ruiu,  and  at  diffident  times  to  ask  him 

m  on  T  T°'-    "■;  •""  "-""-^  ''■°-"  -1— •^"0-  of  the  suu  and 

month,  r""'°^  "'"'  '™  '"""""  ''"-"''''  '""'  *™'"I»'»  »'  ".oir 

...outbs,  the   adjutants  of  Montezuma,  were  said  to  be  call  „™  for  rain 

Another  Indian  of  the  place  stated  that  the  people  worshipped  ^  s     ' 

ecauso  "be  govern,  the  world;"  and  thoy  preferred  the  hour  of  his  ri     J 

then.  ad„rat,ons,  and  that  thoy  would  rather  their  own  priests,  than  t  ^ 

.hers  should  perform  the  ceremonies  of  religion,  for  that  the  Cat  olic  fai  h 

iiad  boon  loreed  upon  them  by  the  Spaniards. 

An  clufa,  the  ruin,  of  which  are  to  be  seen  in  the  pueblo  of  Ilun-o 

*""""'•  "'"■  '"■ ""  ""'"'■«  "I'  "l.icb  only,  of  ,dl  the  poor  laborer  b„s  done 


02 


ICHTUFA.S, 


I 


Ihoro,  tunc-  has  not  tuuH.od.     The  intoru.r  wns  noatly  lined  with  stone 
arge  and  Hunill  alt.n.uting,  j-iving  the  aHu-aranco  of  mosaic  work.     Tin's' 
l.ko  other  estulus,  had  no  ontlet  lor  s.noke,  nor  particuhvr  idaeo  designcl  on' 
which  tlio  hro  shoulil  ho  niatlo. 

According  to  Castaueda,  in  the  hirgc  and  powcM-fnl  vilhigo  of  ]Jraba  was 
the  most  remarkable  estnfa.  It  was  bnilt  on  botli  sides  of  a  river  across 
wh.ch  bridges  were  thrown  of  pine  timber.  Tlie  buildings  were  snonorted 
by  stone  pillars,  each  two  fathoms  in  circumference  and  two  in  height 
Genera ly  they  had  but  four  columns.  The  floors  were  laid  with  hu-^e 
polished  stones,  and  resembled  those  in  the  baths  of  Europe.  The  women 
never  enter.xl,  and  only  approached  them  to  carry  food  to  their  husbands 
or  sons. 

We  picture  to  our  own  minds  scenes  that  may  have  occurred  in  this 
estufa;  scenes  in  which  the  In.lians,  now  earth  and  ashes,  then  full  of  the 
vigor  of  life   enacted  their  parts.     Fearing  an  attack  from  the  barbarous 
Apaches,  or  leyans,  they  assemble  in  the  estufa,  there  to  consult  as  to  the 
surest  means  of  defence,  and  to  perform  the  ceremonies  of  religion      The 
dim  light  falls  on  serious  and  determined  countenances,  on  the  polished  pave 
mid  pictured  walls.     There  arc  assembled  the  old  men  and  the  wise,  and  to 
Uieir  words  the  younger  warriors  listen  with  respectful  and  eager  attention. 
Kays  from  the  never-ceasing  lire  flash  to  meet  the  sparkling  eve,  that  is 
more  than  usually  bright  when  the  orator  declares  that  the  arrmvs  which 
have  been   planted  about  the  temple  must  be  plucked  up  to  defend  them 
Irom  their  invaders.     Deep  and  solemn  notes  of  a  drum  direct  the  forms  of 
procedure  that  exist  in  their  councils.     Timeful  an.l  lou.l  is  the  chant  from 
united  voices,  and  the  ancient  men  beat  time,  that  the  music  may  accord  -.s 
perfectly  as  the  feeling  that  animates  each  breast. 

An  interval  follows  of  repose,  by  the  command  of  the  cacimie;  then 
timing  his  actions  to  his  words,  he  leads  them  to  the  bridge  over  whic-h  they 
are  to  pass  on  the  way  to  the  opposite  building.  The  sun,  sldning  upon 
their  garments  of  crimson  and  of  blue,  makes  the  solemn  processij.  look 
gay  y  as  it  moves  along;  spears  glance  in  the  light,  and  the  many-colored 
feathers  on  the  mantas  wave  with  the  motion  made  by  every  sten^  Their 
solemn  aspect  is  not  a  little  changed;  for,  as  the  light  of  their  .oil  beams 
upon  them,  hope  animates  thc^ir  features,  and  makes  elastic  the  touch  of 
the.r  footsteps  as  they  prepare  to  enter,  in  hornuun<,  order,  the  co.mcil-hou.e 


KSTirrAs 


68 


llu.  IaU,l,...  k.,„g  i,I„„,|  „,,„i,„i  i|,„  „.,,„_  J,  „„J,„      i    , 

''"  ™"'  «"  ''"""  ""™'Sl.  tho  .,„i,  „„.„,„co  .0  tho  J,„  liuw 

'"'■'■  ""  "'",^  ":'  "" '1"."^  n,o,„,  for  «  know  „„t  ,1,0  caro,„„„ic.»  „f  „,„ 

"..?.K'.     11,0  tn,.l,t„.,„  ,l.oro  .ocrclcl  by  ,|...ir  „„ck.„t  ,„o„  ,„„y  never  bo 

poa'-l  ...  our  l,oa,„,g;  .,„r  the  „,,„„„,  ,,„„  ,bo,o„,p„„ea  i„  .ho  .orvice. 

,    ,   ,x.bs,o„  be  re„de,ed  ,„  ,„„.  ,„,do,.,,l,.„di„g.     The  va«o»  „„oe  ^.ovod 

o.i  I  ,0  c„  b,  o„,b  o„„  „,  ,1,0  ,„d  bav<«  ,b,„  ,i„,e  „„d  „„  have  „,„do  i„  a 
...o,  0  ,ba,  .,,,00  „„,„.,-„,o„,  i„  „,„„bo,.,  „„d  i„  rt„„,,b,„„  „,e  vo,>.„o 

^^lw\v  now  is  do.solatiuii.  *^  ^ 

TlK.  fhvat  Il«u,so  or  Montoz.una,  one  of  tho  "Ca.sas  Grandcs,"  of  which 
many  he  ,n  nuns  .n  Now  Mexico,  i,s  «ituate.l  ahout  a  league  ,south  of  the  Un.l 
Gi  a.     It  Ks  currontly  said  that,  son.e  live  hundred  yearn  a,„,  the  Mexicans 
.u    heu-  wandonngB  from  the  northward,  paused  l,ere  and  h.id  its  foundation  •' 
a  theory  of   ustory  that  appears  to  be  popuhar  rather  than  exact.     The 
buddn,g  stands  precisely  with  regard  to  the  four  cardu.al  points,  and  fonn.s 
a  perfect  square.     It  was,  probably,   inclosed   by  a  .vail,  and  there   are 
mnau.s  of  watch-towers  at  its  corners.     The  interior  walls  are  four  feet 
hick,  and  the  exterior  arc  six.     The  material  is  red  earth,  the  wood-work 
bo.ug  of  p„.o.     The  ceilings  were  of  beams  of  cedar,  and  the  walls  within 
^^CIe  so  Inghly  finished  that  they  shone  like  tho  finest  pottery.     There  w-is 
a  cellar  below  and  the  height  of  the  whole  was  three  or  four  stories.     The 
liouse  was  lighted  on  the  cast  and  west  sides  by  small  round  holes,  out  of 
^v^uch,  according  to  Indian  tradition,  a  hundred  yeans  ago,  -The  Bitter 
M.IU,    at  the  nsing  and  setting  of  the  sun,  ofl-ered  salutations.     There  are 
the  rums  of  a  large  canal  leading  up  to  the  main  edifice  from  the  river     It 
once  wound  about  the  town,  and  not  only  served  the  purpose  of  irrigation, 
b  t  could  be  used  as  a  moat  for  defence.     About  half  a  league  from  it  is  a 
ake,  so  deep  that  it  is  sounded  with  difliculty.     The  inhabitants  are  said  to 
have  had  many  and  fearful  battles  with  the  neighboring  wild  tribes.     Either 
-de  lost  vast  numbers  of  warriors,  and  the  people  were  dispersed  and 
|h"st.-oyed;  and  the  great  house  fell,  at  last,  under  the  repeated  attacks  of 
the  Apaches  of  the  plains. 

These   large   red  houses,,  the  Chichilti-Cali,  were,  without   doubt,  the 


04 


i:.STir|.'AH. 


work  „f  the    In.lian«  of  New  iMoxin,,   tl.o.vo  wl.o  livc.l    in  tnw„s      Tl.. 
tra,lition«  of -ri.c   Hi.tcM-  Man,"  wl.o  nalut..!   th.  ,..,„  IVo.n   tlu-  drn.lur 
wmdowH,  may  have  been  coiHouncIed  with  ]\r„nt,.x.n,na.  ol"  w!u„a  they  couM 
only  Imve  heanl  Iron,  the  Si.anlurd.s,  or,  n.oro  probably,  the  Indians  who  aceo.n- 
pan.ed  them  from  the  distant  sonth.     The  Aztecs  never  built  theno  houses 
1  iK-.r  language,  their  art,  their  religion  are  dissinular.   Many  i,e<,ple  succee.led 
each  other  in  the  sway  of  Mexieo,  before  its  c.on,nest  by  Corte.,  but  the 
In.hans  of  the  townn  in  New  Mexico,  were  probably  born,  as  n  nation,  where 
they  have  ever  lived  since.     As  in  the  instances  of  the  Casas  (i.an.le:.,  son.e 
were  destroyed  or  driven  fro.n  their  fortresses  by  the  (iercc  and  wild  tribes 
ol  the  pla.ns,  that,  after  destroying  one  town,  began  to  assault  another.    The 
tnid.t.ons  of  the  Indians  regarding  their  religion,  are  nnngled  with  le-vnds 
J.l  the  inonks  who  came  aniong  then,,  three  hundred  years  ago,  and  who 
brought  from  Spa,n  an-l  from  Mexico  ideas  that  were  adopte.l  by  the  natives 
'^nd  placed  beside  those  whi.-h  they  had  got  fron,  their  forefathers;  for  it 
must  be  remembered  that  the  Mexicans  knew  not  of  the  existence  of  the 
pueblos,  and  the  Indians  of  the  pueblos  were  equally  ignorant  of  the  Aztecs 
and  their  h.story.     The  father,  Pedro  Font,  in  his  diary  of  177-5,  speaks  of 
the  character  of  the  earthenware,  which  lay  broken  about  this  Casa  of 
Montezuma;  some  of  it  was  coarse,  and  other  colored  in  a  variety  of  tints 
and  ni  great  quantities;   indicating  the  existence  there,  once,  of  a  lar^o 
population  and  distinct  fron.  the  Pimas  of  the  Gila,  as  those  then  livin.  there 
knew  not  how  to  make  like  ware.     Neither  were  the  Apaches  acq.rainted 
vitl    the  art  bu    snndar  pottery  is  found  among  the  Moquis,  who,  after 
bmldmg  and  mhabUmg  this  Casa  Grande,  may  have  been  driven  thence  by 
more  powerful  enemies,  to  establish  themselves  where  they  are  livin.  at  the 
present  day.    The  Casas  Grandes  may  therefore  be  conside.'d  the  work  of  th 
same  people  whose  descendants  are  now  living  in  the  pueblos  of  New  Mexico 
At  the  present  day,  when  the  Indians  of  the  towns  have  been  out  on  a 
war  excu..on,  .t  is  their  custom,  on  returning  to  the  village,  to  go  at  once 
to  the  estufa,  where  they  dance  and  carouse,  sometimes  for  several  days 
before  they  see  their  families.     When  there  is  public  business  to  be  traas- 
actecUhe  cacque  of  the  village  collects  the  principal  men  in  the  estufa 
and  discussions  take  place,  the  majority  deciding  as  to  the  result      Whai 
passes  here  is  never  to  be  divulged  outside  the  walls;  neither  can  a  strai..;.- 
be  admitted  to  the  council.     A  secret  watch  is  appointed  to  observe     he 


111 


Til.' 


Tlu> 


KSTHFAS. 

■"";lu<'«  "ttU.  I,„lia„,,  „r  ,l,„  village,  a,„l  !f  „„j,|,!„^  ,„,.ur«  .,,„„,„v  ,„ 
'!"•"■  Inw,,  ,t  ,H  a.i,o,lo,l  l„  ,|,„  cuncil  „,  Ik.  „,l„IU,  ,uul  „K,,»ur,.,  I„  n-uLy. 
mil  tu  proveiit  rreiuiviici:  nra  iiiiiiu.,i:,i|,.|y  Uikm. 

M...I  or  the  I„.l:a„,s  „r,|,o  t„>vu»  ,„ll  (l,..m«c.lvc.»  ,l,o  ,l,.,,.o,„I„„l„  „r 

"';""7, ';.'"""''"'"  "'"^  '"■"  l'"l-  lil"'ly  t.,  I,„vc.  I,™,,l  „r  ,|„.t  ,„„„,u.U 

"•I-;  ll-  l....»  of  the  S,,am,„,l».  <o-c.«,givv,«„„„.,:,i„,.  „™„„„t  ul'  ll,„ 
.lw.u,U,„»  away  „1  .ho  IVcc,  M,.,  whid,  had  U.,,  mluccU  to  a  (l.,v  ,,«.»,„, 
wIj..  j<aiicMl  Iho  l>i,cl,|„  „!■  ,7,,„n.i,.  I""""" 

ti,„  JlrT  v"""  '""^  "  "'"'""""  """  "'''"■"'■■'  '"  '"'^  '"">  '"'  "rigi..  about  tl,o 
o      ,,       """  "■""  """'"'"'""'  ""•  '■"■""■I"™'  "'■  tl.o  ,.o„nl,y,  m  the  „„,. 

tlK.,  I.  .«,,  that  ho  would  ,.o,u,.„  a.  »„u,o  tiu.o  „ith  tho  Hsiu,  !a  thj  ™u. 
ho  th..  .uluuM  would  asson.Ue  at  ,.a,.|y  dawn,  watohiu,-  will,  tho  ..n,,t..„t 
..o.v»  ho  c,.nu,„u  light  that  horaldod  tho  approach  of  thoi,-  ,.,aj:hopi,  ! 
1.0  wo,dd  not  o„u,o  u„att.a,dod,  but  that  tho  priuooly  Jlouto.unu,  .v  uld 
lulvauoo  at  the  samo  moniout. 

Tho  .acrod  llro  w,«  watd.od  and  lod,  aud  tho  hoart,  of  (ho  poor  ludiau, 
would  uot  lad,  though  thoi,.  uuu,bo„  docrca^od  at  oaol,  hu-oad  ol'  tho  ono,„ 
N.ght  camo,  and  day;  tho  warriors  took  thoir  turu,,  aud,  while  walohiu:; 
m.,,hor  ate  „„r  drauk.     Old  men  looked  at  tho  ourber,  that  Ihey  darkouc::; 

no   n,  ,1,0  asho»,  and  young  ,„o„  ,„„oa  by,  hoping,  Ibr  tho  young  are  , pt 

hop.,  that  tho  tuno  of  th.ir  dolivo,,„,oo  wa,  nea,-.  Day»  and  year,  wo  t 
on,  a„.l  owe,-  boea.uo  the  uu.ubor  of  tho  wat,.l,o,.»;  for  thoir  euou.io,,  were 
uwaro  01  t,o,rwoak„e.,,aud  .hoy  .a-oly  bo.et  tbou,  i„  tl.oir  hou.o.,;  yet 
. 0  ,0  »td  burned  on  tho  door  of  tho  o»tuf„,  and  tho  old  an.l  fooble  u.on  ot 
w..tched-tho.r  oyc,  growing  din,  with  p,.„traclvd  wakolulno™,  and  their 
boar  .  .,0k  w,th.„  thou,  f,-„„,  hopo  deferred.  They  waited,  and  g,.w  weaker 
V uy  day.  More  ,l,a„  „„ee  tho  wa,ri„,.s  ea,„o  to  ,oliovo  one  who  .,till  »at 
be,„re  t he  glow.ug  e,„bers,  hi,  arn,..  „r„H,,od  upon  a  bo,„„,,  within  whiel, 
1".1«  l.ad  d,od,  .t,ll„,g,  !„  it,  doelino,  tho  tlnobbing.,  of  life,  that  had  boon 
woarn.g  loss  and  lo.ss  st,-o„g,  until  they  ceased  forever 

The  warrior,  were  few,  but  .still  they  watched,  a„d  tho  st,-ougest  hope.l. 

h,°.  °",'7  '"'"',•'"■.«'"■"■"' '"  ""'^"  'I'--™™-,;  yo.  .bey  fough.  braiely 
n  the  ,  .o„n.s  laucy,,,,.  Ibat  tl,e  ,non,  woul.l  ,how  then,  a  oha.upion  who 
sliuLild  lualvu  thorn  lioc. 


or. 


E  S  T  U  F  A  S . 


m   !i 


Upon  the  terraml  roofs  would  1  inner  the  young  mother  and  her  ehild, 
and  the  aged  woman.  They  never  despaired,  and  though  the\-  were  not  per- 
mitted  to  enter  the  estufa,  and  see  the  lire  that  their  warriors  guarded,  it 
was  their  privilege  to  stand  at  morn  and  at  eve,  adoring  tlieir  god,  who, 
departing  each  night  from  their  view,  permitted  them  to  trust  in  a  redemp- 
tion that  would  yet  make  them  happy. 

Still  less  hecame  the  number  of  those  who  watched,  anil  their  strength 
was  only  weakness.  Darkness  veiled  their  sight ;  the  last  red  embers  of  the 
sacred  fire  expiring,  there  was  no  more  hope  for  those  who  remained.  They 
turned  disconsolate  from  their  homes,  and  went  into  other  parts.  Their 
name  was  blotted  out,  when  the  ashes  of  the  sacred  fire  lay  cold  within  the 
deserted  estufa. 


I 


lior  diild, 
e  not  per- 
uarilotl,  it 
god,  AvllO, 
II  rodt'inp- 


,slreii,<i»li 
ors  of  thc! 
a.  They 
s.  Their 
ithiu  the 


]■■ 


!    .. 


HUNTING   THE   DUFFALO   IN   WINTEE. 


If  the  snow  be  verj  deep,  or  unless  a  crust  has  formed  upon  its  surface 
almost  useless  are  the  efforts  of  the  Indian  hunter  to  kill  the  buffalo  in 
winter.  But  if  the  snow  be  frozen,  it  is  easy  to  do  so,  for  then  the  animal 
finds  great  difficulty  in  running  from  his  pursuers;  his  short  limbs  and 
immense  weight  make  him,  in  a  deep,  hard  snow,  excessively  clumsy.  The 
icy  particles  cut  him,  and  he  falls  from  his  awkwardness,  drops  of  blood 
.staining  the  white  ground  in  his  track.  The  hunter  has  on  snow-shoes;  he 
passes  swiftly  along,  with  spear  or  arrow,  to  accomplish  his  design. 

In  winter,  the  buffalo  feeds  upon  the  dead  grass,  that  b  sometimes 
entirely  covered  up  with  snow,  which  the  animal  strokes  away  with 
his  nose. 

The  skin,  when  taken  in  winter,  is  better  than  at  any  other  season;  for 
then  the  hair  is  long  and  thick,  though  not  so  fine  and  silky  as  in  autumn. 
When  taken  in  summer,  it  is  rarely  used,  not  being  considered  good. 
Almost  all  the  robes  that  are  purchased,  are  from  the  female  ])uffalo. 
Those  from  the  male  are  so  tough  and  thick,  that  the  Indians  do  not  dress 
them. 

The  savages  believe  the  white  buffalo,  that  is  not  often  seen,  possesses 
a  supernatural  power.  They  cut  off  its  head,  and  place  it  in  their  lodge, 
making  it  a  household  deity. 

A  trader,  forced  by  circumstances  to  remain  in  the  Indian  country, 
observed  a  hunter  take  a  dog  in  his  arms;  tying  his  feet  together,  he  threw 
It  into  the  river.  While  the  dog  was  drowning,  the  savage  addressed  a  prayer 
to  the  Great  Spirit.  He  implored  him  to  bless  with  success  his  efforts  in 
the  chase,  during  the  long  winter  that  was  then  setting  in.  The  trader  lived 
with  this  Tiulii.n.  and.  ncc      Maying  him  on  liis  hunting  excursions,  could 


-I 


cs 


IIUNTIXU    THE   KUFFALO    IX   WINTER. 


I 


(.bservo,  iuul,  in  many  instances,  could  (slmrc,  the  pleasure  and  dang.M-  of  Ids 
iid  ventures. 

Deer  are  easily  killed  in  the  winter,  when  the  surfncc  of  the  snow  is 
frozen.  The  crust  breaks  under  their  feet,  cutting  their  limbs  severely,  and 
thus  retardnig  the  rapidity  of  their  movements. 

The  raccoon  is  frequently  hunted  in  the  cold  season.  It  comes  forth  from 
its  hiding-place  after  sunset,  and,  when  followed,  is  obliged  to  take  refuge  in 
a  tree;  not  being  a  swift  runner,  it  is  easily  overtaken.  Its  place  of  refuge 
is  discovered  by  noticing  the  tracks  in  the  snow. 

In  hunting  the  beaver,  the  Indian  passes  many  of  the  short  winter  days. 
lie  says  these  animals  wore  once  a  people,  possessing  many  remarkable  fa- 
culties,  and  endowed  with  language.  The  Great  Spirit,  fearing  they  would 
become  superior  to  man,  took  from  them  the  gift  of  speech.  The  remark- 
able skill  shown  by  these  little  animals  in  the  construction  of  their  houses, 
as  well  as  in  their  clTorts  to  elude  the  arts  of  the  hunters,  has  given  them 
a  high  rank  in  the  estimation  of  the  Indians,  who  have  many  peculiar  and 
amusing  notions  concerning  them. 

The  savages  told  Henry,  the  English  trader,  that,  some  of  the  beavers 
do  not  build  habitations,  but  go  off  to  themselves,  living  in  holes;  these  had 
a  name  given  them  by  the  Indians,  answering  to  the  expression  "old  bache- 
lors."  They  stated  the  beaver  to  be  constant  and  devoted  to  his  mate ;  and 
if  a  strange  male  approaches  the  dwelling,  he  becomes  so  furiously  jellous, 
that  a  violent  conflict  ensues.  The  object  of  the  strife  looks  cahnly  on,  and 
is  content  to  remain  with  the  victor. 

The  most  remarkable  incident  that  came  before  the  observation  of  Henry, 
on  these  hunting  expeditions,  was  the  killing  of  a  bear. 

In  the  trunk  of  a  large  tree  the  animal  lay  concealed;  the  opening  was 
ill  the  top  of  the  tree.  Early  one  morning,  men  and  women  surrounded 
it  with  their  axes,  toiling  away  until  sunset.  More  than  half  of  another 
day  was  thus  passed,  before  the  tree  fell  to  the  ground.  A  few  minutes 
after,  a  bear  of  the  largest  size  came  out  of  the  opening,  and  was  instantly 
shot. 

All  the  Indians  approached  the  animal,  feigning  the  deepest  sorrow. 
They  begged  its  forgiveness  for  having  killed  it,  urging  their  necessities  as 
an  excuse  for  the  act.  An  old  woman  lifted  up  the  head,  stroked  and 
kissed  it,  called   the  ho-.yv  her  grandmother,  using  terms  of  endearment. 


HUNTING  THE  BUFFALO  IN  WINTER, 


69 


Thon,  after  many  ap..lon;ics,  accompanied  by  tears,  the  savages  set  to  work 
to  draw  off  the  nkin;  afterwards  tliey  cut  up  the  llesh,  and  extracted  a 
quantity  of  oil.  One  of  them  bore  the  head  of  the  bear  to  \m  lodge,  where 
It  was  adorned  with  all  the  family  ornaments.  Wampum  and  silver  brace- 
lets were  put  upon  it,  and  tobacco  was  placed  near  the  nose.  Preparations 
were  made  ior  a  great  feast,  and  one  of  the  Indians  made  an  address  to  the 
spirits  of  the  dead,  lie  lamented  that,  in  this  life,  the  red  man  was  some- 
times obliged  to  destroy  his  friends.  As  an  excuse,  he  pleaded  poverty, 
saying:  "How  can  we  subsist  withont  doing  so?"  With  this  speech,  the 
formalities  were  concluded,  and  the  whole  company  ate  a  hearty  meal. 

At  an  early  hour,  the  Indian  hunter  goes  forth,  to  seek  the  buffalo  or  the 
deer,  in  winter.  He  watches  for  the  tracks,  and,  when  found,  he  closely 
follows  them.  Before  him  glistens  a  frozen  sea;  not  a  shrub  is  in  sight;  at 
evening,  there  is  still  the  white  snow  and  the  cold-looking  sky.  When  it  is 
dark,  ho  is  fortunate  if  within  his  reach  is  a  small  tree,  from  which  ho  -an 
break  off  branches.  He  lights  a  fire,  and  takes  some  nourishment;  he  melts 
the  snow,  if  he  be  thirsty,  and,  after  smoking,  rests,  and  then  pursues  his 
way. 


1  ' 

j 

B             '^  i 

1 

!  j 

^l 


o 


s 


-s 


S 


D 


q 


a 


Q 


^?i 


=) 


FOKT    MACKINAW. 


T^  the  eighteenth  century,  numerous  and  very  warlike  Indians  lived  in 
1.0  region  of  the  northern  hvkes.  The  Ottawas,  the  Chippewas,  and  the 
lottau^atan..e8  were  found  along  the  left  bank  of  the  Saint  r.awrence  liiver 
when  the  i^rench  established  themselves  there  for  the  purpose  of  trade 
1  H.y  had  migrated  from  the  east,  eoming  together  as  far  as  Lake  Huron, 
where  they  separated.  The  Ottawas  remained  in  the  neighborhood,  but  thJ 
two  other  tribes  went  to  the  northwest. 

After  the  settlement  of  Detroit,  in  July  of  the  year  1701,  the  Ottawas 
received  an  impression  from  the  English,  whom  some  of  the  chiefs  had 
visited  at  Albany,  that  the  French  intended  to  subdue  them.  In  consc- 
quence,  they  ventured  upon  acts  of  hostility  towards  the  people  of  Detroit, 

flat  the  French,  they  coneluded  to  make  a  peace,  and  remained,  ever 
aftu,  their  firm  friends  and  constant  allies.    In  17G0,  the  French  abandoned 
hoir  stations  to  the  English,  and  from  that  hour  began  to  be  developed,  in 
he  person  o    an  Indian  chief,  a  character  such  as  has  not  been  sun^asled 
by  any  that  has  appeared  in  the  history  of  the  race:  a  prodigy  of  wisdom 
valor,  and  energy.     In  his  love  of  one  family  of  the  whites,  in  his  hatred  of 
another,  and  in  h.s  steadfast  patriotism,  are  to  be  found  his  prominent  pro- 
portions.    He   possessed   all   those   traits   that   enforce   from   the   sava-e 
afiections  supreme  homage,  while  the  more  cultivated  minds  of  civilization 
acknowledged  the  qualities  of  superior  intellect. 

It  was  with  the  deepest  chagrin  that  Pontiac  saw  the  French,  who  had 
long  lived  in  his  country,  displaced  by  another  nation.  He  exerto.l  every 
mfluence  that  he  possessed -eloquence,  personal  attractions,  and  hi-h 
talents-to  induce  the  other  Indians  to  unite  with  his  tribe  in  an  effort  lo 
expel  the  English  from  their  midst. 


72 


FORT    MACKINAW. 


Mnjor  Rogers  commanded  the  first  Eng]i,sh  force  tliat  ever  penetrated 
into  the  country  of  tlio  Ottawas.     AVhile  on  liis  route  to  garrison  Detroit,  ho 
Avas  met  by  some  of  these  ludiiins,  accompanied  by  chiefs  of  other  tribes. 
Their  object  was  to  tell  him  that  Pontiac  was  on  his  ^vay  to  visit  him,  as 
"ho  wished  to  see  him  with  his  own  eyes."     Those  messengers  said  that 
"their  master  was  king  and  lord  of  tJic  country  which  the  English  hi.d  now 
entered."     Mnjor  Rogers  accordingly  stopped,  and  ere  long  the  princely 
savage  made  his  appearance.     He  asked  them  majestically,  «  how  dare  they 
enter  his  country  without  his  permission  ?"     The  English  protested  against 
any  design,  to  injure  the  Indians,  but  said  they  intended  to  remove  the 
French  from  the  country.     Pontiac  fiercely  replied  :  "  I  stand  in  tliy  path 
until  tlie  morning,"  givhig  the  officer,  at  the  same  time,  a  string  of  wampum. 
The  Mnjor  concluded  it  was  safest  to  wait  the  pleasure  of  the  chief,  and  the 
latter   was   softened  and  gratified    at   his   determination.     He   asked    the 
English  commander  if  there  were  anything  he  wanted  in  Im  country? 
Rogers  mentioned  their  need  of  provisions,  ofl-ering  to  pay  for  them,  and  the 
next  morning  parched   corn    was  brought.     At  another  meeting,  Pontiac 
smoked  with  the  English,  and  gave  them  permission  to  pass  .through  the 
country,  promising  to  protect  them  from  his  own,  and  other  tribes. °  This 
promise  was  faithfully  kept,  and  the  strangers  felt  the  advantage  of  having 
so  powerful  a  friend. 

It  is  not  easy  to  assure  ourselves  of  the  causes  of  diflerence  that  after- 
wards occurred  to  bring  on  hostilities  between  the  English  and  the  Indians. 
Pontiac  had  never  acknowledged  any  allegiance  to  the  British  sovereign. 
lie  called  him  uncle,  while  he  applied  the  title  of  father  to  the  French 
monarch.  He  said,  that  though  the  English  had  coniiuered  the  French, 
they  had  not  subdued  the  Indians.  He  complained  that  the  English  had 
'•neglected  those  circumstances  which  made  the  neighborhood  of  tiro  French 
agreeable."  He  knew  that  colonies  of  the  English  at  the  south  had  subdued, 
and  sometimes  destroyed,  the  natives  in  their  homes,  and  he  recognized  the' 
new  comers  as  the  same  people.  He  could  not  but  observe  the  superiority 
of  the  English  arms  over  their  own,  ..^d  the  flict  that  they  had  conquered 
the  French,  suggested  to  him  the  possibility  that  they  might  subjugate  the 
Indians  also.  He  saw  them  anxious  to  establish  themselves  in  in^portant 
positions  a))out  the  lakes,  and  his  reilective  mind  argued  the  consecjuences. 
IJe  warned  the  English  that  though  he  was  inclined  to   live  p..aeeably  with 


FORT  MACKINAW, 


73 


thorn,  wMo  tho.v  used  him  ,.  ho  dosorvod,  and  he  wished  them  to  settle  in 

Pontiac,  probably,  never  boeamo  interested  in  the  English  as  a  people 
Ho  had  learned  to  love  the  French,  and  he  felt,  in  their  behalf,  as  a  ft  end 
feoMowards  a  fnend  who  has  roeeived  injuries  from  a  stranger. 

among  them.     These  nations  had  often  assembled  together  in  eouneil  had 

he  Engl   h  differed  from  the  Fi-eneh.     They  seemed  eeneerned  onlv  to 
advance  t  e.r  own   interests,  and   Pontiao  concluded  that,  to  aecut  the 
welfare  of  h,s  people,  he  would  fulfd  the  threat  he  had  made   o  the  stra  .1 
and  s/nit  vp  tJie  way.  suangtr, 

str.r'  ^r^v  ''""^"^  '"  ""'  ^"«''''''  "Sainst  the  wishes  and  remon- 
sfanees  of  the  Indians.     Pontiac  endeavored  afterwards  to  induce  themTo 

m, to  wUh  Inm  against  a  common  foe,  and  at  their  refusal  he  was  toh  " 
in  .gnant   tellmg  them  they  eould  not  be  neutral;  they  ,  us  I    M^^ 

ntirely  French,  or  entirely  English;  if  the  one,  he  waT  their  fric- d 
the  other,  their  enemy.  ' 

Yetwi«  not  the  chief  discouraged ;  perceiving  that  the  Indians  must 
battle  unaided  their  own  cause,  his  spirit  roused  itself  to  an  energy  almo 
superhuman.  '-"^'oj'  <nuiosc 

Ho  determined  to  attack,  simultaneously,  all  the  stations  of  the  British 
™  t  0  Lakes,  and  those  a.  Niagara,  Presque  Isle,  Le  Beonf,  Verango     „S 
Pit  Shu  g.     These  posts  overlooked  the  roads  of  communication  witl    "  the 
world  of  woods  and  waters,  in  the  remote  north  and  west."    He  hoped  that 
by  al™.,,igbi,  enemies  no  time  for  preparation  or  communicati  n,  thel 
iglit  defences  might  be  destroyed,  and  lio  would  again  be  supreme  i^  coT 
tro  over  the  country  of  his  inheritance.     He  had  then  "  the  largest  empire 
and  greatest  authority  of  any  Indian  chief  that  ha.  appeared  oi^  the  eo  iti! 
nent  since  our  acquaintance  with  it."    Confident  of  the  justice  of  his  cause, 
he  was  almost  as  certain  of  its  success. 

He  assembled  his  own  people  and  disclosed  his  plan;  exerting  his  evtra- 
orfiuary  genius  to  appeal  to  their  pride  and  leve  of  country.     He  used  every 

without  delay.     U,s  ,»„ple  hesitated  not  to  adopt  his  views.     Like  liim 


'    I 


I 


74 


FORT   MACKINAW 


they  hated  the  English,  and  loved  the  French;  and  they  feared  the  decline 
of  their  own  power  as  a  nation,  should  the  English  be  permitted  to  pursue 
their  present  policy. 

He  next  convened  in  council  the  other  tribes.  He  related  the  vision  of 
a  Lenape,  in  which  the  Great  Spirit  had  appeared,  and  dictated  to  the 
Indian,  in  his  sleep,  the  course  he  willed  his  red  children  to  pursue  They 
were  no  longer  to  trade  with  the  English,  and  they  were  to  resume  their 
ancient  style  of  clothing,  and  the  use  of  the  bow  and  arrow;  above  all,  they 
were  to  refuse  the  intoxicating  drink  so  frequently  offered  to  them.  The 
Great  Spirit,  in  the  dream,  concluded  his  admonitions  to  them  by  saying: 
"Why  do  you  suffer  these  dogs  in  red  clothing  to  enter  your  country,  and 
take  the  land  I  have  given  you?  Drive  them  from  it!  Drive  them !  When 
you  are  in  distress,  I  will  help  you." 

The  result  of  this  council  was  a  league  of  the  tribes  of  the  Lakes,  and 
Its  placing  itself  under  the  control  of  Pontiac,  to  work  out  his  will,  \dded  to 
these  were  the  Indians  of  New  York  and  a  number  of  the  Delawares 
some  of  whom  came  also  from  Ohio.  A  proper  estimate  of  the  courage  and 
energy  of  Pontiac  can  bo  arrived  at,  when  we  consider  that  he  proposed  to 
destroy,  at  once,  all  the  Enghsh  stations  from  Green  Bay  to  Niagara,  and 
southward  to  the  Potomac  River. 

The  appointed  time  came,  at  which  was  to  be  put  in  execution  the  great 
design.  The  posts  everywhere  were  attacked,  almost  all  of  them  on  the 
same  day;  nine  were  taken.  Some  were  able  to  resist  until  reinforcements 
arrived;  but  the  most  dreadful  atrocities  were  committed  throughout  the 
country,  that  have  ever  been  recorded.  Indian  strategy  and  cunnin.^  were 
employed  in  the  subjugation  of  several  of  the  stations,  with  perfect  success 
Thatcher,  in  his  Indian  Biography,  records  the  artifice  of  a  woman  of  the 
Miamies,  who  went  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  military  station  among 
them,  and,  "by  piteous  entreaties,  persuaded  him  to  go  out  with  her  some 
two  hundred  yards,  to  the  succor,  as  she  said,  of  a  wounded  man,  who  was 
dying.     The  Indians  waylaid  and  shot  him." 

The  old  fort  of  Michilimackinac  was  situated  on  the  south  side  of  the 
straits  of  the  same  name,  between  Lakes  Huron  and  Michigan.     The  Indians 
saw  the   importance  of  destroying   it;   for  there   the   traders  were   con- 
stantly resting,  in  going  up  to,  and  coming  down  from  Montreal      There 
too,  were  kept  large  quantities  of  goods,  and  it  would  be  impossible  for  ihJ 


FORT   MACKINAW. 


76 


P^oS*  '"IT  T^^:!'  "■*  "'•™'»=-°»"^.  -"•>«"'  "'e  control  of  tin, 
pos  ,o„.  So  tha  all  the  strength  and  policy  of  the  savages  were  put  forth 
on  the  occasion  of  its  assault. 

The  pictuje  represents  the  situation  of  the  fort.    It  ,vas  built  by  Louis 
Hennepin  and  a  party  of  Canadian  fur  traders.     They  were  charmed  with 
the  noble  country  they  were  traversing,  its  fore-sts  filled  with  giant  tl    ta 
nvers  and  lakes  abounding  with  the  finest  fish,  the  woods  filL  wi      bir 
of  great  s,ze  and  beauty,  while  everywhere,  on  the  plains  and  in  the  valleys' 

ruhgiittrwhTrth^trt^^^^^^ 

„f  *!,„  1       r      ..     ,  •'^'      ''°™  '"=> "'  •>«  directed  the  lavins 

of  the  logs  for  the  building  of  the  fort  at  Michilimaekinac,  have  foresee^ 

fir  *°nr,       T  "'  *'  "™'  ""  ""«'^  '-*>  'i-JructionT  " 

hi:  ;ru^d  ■:  "^^^  *-"  "'^  ^-^ '- »™-  -  >'""  --  »*-'- 

There  lived  in  the  neighborhood  at  that  time,  an  Indian  chief-  and 
from  an  .sland  near,  which  presented  somewhat  ti,e  shape  of  a  tmtie  he 
n=ce>ved  h.s  name,  Maekiuae,  which  became  also  that  of  the  fort. 

de  troy  the  Enghsh  mhab.tants.     Pontiac  showed  a  remarkable  military 
stall  m  Ins  arrangements  for  that  conflict.    The  English  were  as  vet 
2n»-  -  the  land,  and  were  not  prepared  to  carr/on  a  war     By'2 
plan  of  opera  ,ons,  the  chief,  if  he  did   not  ultimately  drive   away  the 
.ntruders,   made   their   situation   intolerable,   by   the  infliction  of   many 
ruelfes.     The  English,  in  their  garrison  at  Fort  Mackinaw,  were  unsus- 
pcous  of  any  danger,  while  the  Indians  were  maturing  tteir  plans  to 
dest  oy  them.     A  Clnppewa  chief,  who  had  received  some  favor  fr,m  the 
Enghsh  sent  word  to  the  eommandiug  ofileer,  that  «he  had  been  disturbed 
by  the  no,se  of  ev,l  b,rds.»    This,  and  other  warnings  of  danger  were  dis- 
regarded,  and  the  massacre  of  the  garrison  was  the  consequence 

The  Ind,.ms  had  assembled  to  celebrate  their  ball-play,  a  game  that  i, 
popular  w,th  all  native  nations  of  North  America,  o'  tliis  occasion,  h 
Ch,ppewas  were  to  play  with  the  Sacs  for  a  high  wager;  each  party  tr;ing 
to  throw  the  ball  away  from  its  own  post  or  line,  over  the  adversa-^'s,  and 
ho  I„d,ans  agreed  beforehand  to  throw  it.  as  if  by  accident,  over  the  pi:kets 
01  the  fort,  and  thus,  m  pursuing  it,  effect  an  entrance  there  by  stratagem 


:!!! 


7G 


FORT   MACKINAW. 


when  the  English  might  be  surjmsecl  and  cut  off.  The  plan  was  successful; 
soon  the  terrific  war-cry  was  heard,  succeeding  the  animating  shouts  that 
accompanied  the  performance  of  the  game.  The  commandant  and  most  of 
the  officers  were  without  the  pickets,  intent  on  the  amusement;  the  men, 
incapable  of  united  action  without  the  officers,  could  do  nothing  that  would 
avail  in  this  dreadful  emergency.  Many  of  them  were  scalped  while  living, 
and  the  most  horrible  scenes  followed  each  other,  in  quick  succession.  The 
French  inhabitants  beheld  all  without  risk  or  fear  of  danger  to  themselves, 
but  did  not  dare  to  assist,  or  even  petition  in  favor  of  the  English  suffijrers. 

Henry,  who  had  hidden  himself  in  the  house  of  a  Frenchman,  wit- 
nessed through  an  aperture  in  the  wall,  the  foul  and  horrible  butcheries,  the 
ferocious  and  mad  triumphs  of  the  savages.  In  a  very  short  time,  every 
one  that  could  be  found  was  slain;  then,  a  dreadful  cry  arose  from  the 
Indians,  "All  is  finished."  Intoxicated  with  the  blood  of  their  enemies, 
they  only  ceased  to  slay  when  there  were  no  more  victims. 

The  trader  escaped  through  the  personal  attachment  of  an  Indian,  but 
he  endured  unparalleled  sufferings.  Before  the  massacre  of  the  garrison,  he 
was  aware  that  the  Indians  were  hostile  to  the  English;  but  the  com- 
mandant felt  no  fear,  having  a  force  of  ninety  privates  and  two  subalterns 
under  his  command.  There  were  also  four  English  merchants  present; 
and,  thus  assisted,  he  felt  strong  enough  to  defend  the  fort. 

Henry  testifies  to  the  attachment  felt  for  the  French  by  the  Indians, 
and  to  their  indignation  towards  those  who  supplanted  them.  When  esta- 
blishing himself  at  Mackinaw  as  a  trader,  a  party  of  sixty  Chippewas  came 
to  his  house,  headed  by  Mina-va-va-na,  their  chief.  They  walked  in  Indian 
file,  having  in  one  hand  a  tomahawk,  in  the  other  a  seal  ping-knife.  They 
were  without  clothing,  their  bodies  painted  in  various  patterns  with  white 
clay.  Some  had  feathers  through  their  noses,  and  their  appearance  was  at 
once  solemn  and  frightful. 

The  chief  told  the  trader  that  the  English  were  brave,  and  were  not 
afraid  of  death,  since  they  dared  to  come  among  their  enemies ;  and  he  thus 
formally  addressed  him  : — 

"  Englishman !  it  is  to  you  that  I  speak,  and  I  demand  your  attention ! 

"  Englishman !  you  know  that  the  French  king  is  our  father.  He 
promised  to  be  such,  and  we,  in  return,  promised  to  be  his  children.  This 
promise  we  have  kept. 


FORT   MACKINAW. 


77 


"  Englishinau !  it  is  you  that  have  made  war  with  this,  our  father.  You 
are  his  enemy,  and  how,  then,  could  you  have  the  boldness  to  venture  among 
us,  his  children  ?  you  know  that  his  enemies  are  ours. 

"  Englishman !  we  are  informed  that  our  father,  the  King  of  France,  is 
old  and  infirm,  and  that,  being  fatigued  with  making  war  upon  your  nation, 
he  is  fallen  asleep.  During  his  sleep,  you  have  taken  advantage  of  him, 
and  have  possessed  yourselves  of  Canada.  But  his  nap  is  almost  at  an  end. 
I  think  I  hear  him  already  stirring,  and  inquiring  for  his  children,  the 
Indians ;  and  when  he  does  awake,  what  must  become  of  you  ?  He  will 
destroy  you  utterly. 

"  Englishman !  although  you  have  conquered  the  French,  you  have  not 
conquered  us.  We  are  not  your  slaves.  These  lakes,  these  woods  and 
mountains  were  left  to  us  by  our  ancestors.  They  are  our  inheritance,  and 
we  will  part  with  them  to  none." 

Shocking  as  are  the  details  of  the  massacre  of  Fort  Mackinaw,  there 
occurred,  at  the  time,  incidents  that  are  pleasingly  illustrative  of  Indian 
character.  It  is  well  known  how  superstitious  are  all  our  aborigines,  and 
how  much  influence  a  dream  will  have  upon  their  conduct  for  a  time,  and 
often,  during  life.  The  trader  just  mentioned,  tells  of  an  Indian  named 
Wd-wd-tan,  who  often  visited  him,  from  the  period  of  his  arrival  at 
Mackinaw,  and  who  showed  him  kindness  that  could  only  have  sprung 
from  a  personal  regard.  He  brought  his  wife  and  children  to  introduce  to 
him,  and  made  him  several  valuable  presents.  Once,  he  told  Henry  that, 
some  time  before,  he  had  performed  a  severe  fast,  according  to  the  custom  of 
his  people,  and  hoped  that,  through  this  self  denial,  he  should  secure  from 
the  Great  Spirit  a  special  protection.  While  fosting,  he  had  a  dream,  and 
in  it  he  seemed  to  have  adopted  an  Englishman  as  a  son  and  brother.  In 
the  person  of  Henry,  WiWd-tdn  declared  he  saw  the  English  brother 
designated  by  the  Great  Spirit,  and  he  said  that  he  should  always  regard 
him  as  one  of  his  own  family. 

Before  the  massacre,  Wd-wd-tdn,  who  had  been  absent  for  some  time, 
came  to  Henry,  sad  and  thoughtful,  entreating  him  to  leave  his  house,  and 
come  with  him  to  his  lodge  and  live.  This  the  trader  refused  to  do,  as  his 
interests  would  have  suffered  from  such  a  course.  The  next  day  Wd-wd-tan 
returned  with  his  wife,  both  entreating  him  to  go  home  with  them, 
giving  various  reasons,  which  were  not  of  sufficient  importance  to  induce  him 


78 


FORT   MACKINAW. 


to  give  up  his  business.  The  Indians  offered  him  presents,  urging  him  with 
dejected  countenances  to  accede  to  their  wishes,  and  using  figurative  hm- 
guago,  that  intimated  great  danger  if  he  remained. 

The  love  of  money  often  overcomes  personal  fear;  and  Henry,  who  chose 
to  remain,  sold  the  very  implements  to  the  Indians  that  they  used  against 
the  English;  so  that  his  friends  withdrew  reluctantly,  and  not  without  tears. 
Ultimately,  the  trader  owed  his  life  to  them.  WtWu-tun  had  pledged  his 
word  to  the  Indians  not  to  betray  their  plot,  and  they  had  given  him 
permission  to  save  the  life  of  his  friend.  After  the  massacre,  Henry  was 
taken  prisoner,  and  while  expecting  death  momentarily,  WiUwd-tdn  and  his 
wife  entered  the  lodge  where  he  sat,  watched  by  his  captors.  They  brought 
with  them  presents,  and  laid  them  before  the  chiefs.  Then  Wu-wu-ttin 
eloquently  addressed  them:  — 

"  Friends  and  relations,"  he  began,  " what  is  it  I  shall  say?  You  know 
what  I  feel.  You  all  have  friends,  and  brothers  and  children,  whom,  a8 
yourselves,  you  love;  and  you— what  would  you  experience,  did  you,  like 
me,  behold  your  dearest  friend— your  brother— in  the  condition  of  a  slave; 
a  slave  exposed  every  moment  to  insult,  and  to  menaces  of  death?  See 
there  !  my  friend  and  brother,  among  slaves— himself  a  slave ! 

«  You  all  well  know  that,  long  before  the  war  began,  I  adopted  him  as  a 
brother.  From  that  moment  he  became  one  of  my  family,  so  that  no 
change  of  circumstances  could  break  the  cord  that  fastened  us  together. 
He  is  my  brother,  and  because  I  am  your  relation,  he  is  therefore  your 
relation  too;  and  how,  being  your  relation,  can  he  be  your  slave?" 

The  captive  was  given  up  to  Wii-wu-tiin,  who  took  him  to  his  lodge,  where 
he  was  received  with  joy  by  the  whole  family,  and,  through  their  continued 
regard  and  protection,  he  escaped  the  horrors  and  death  that  befell  so  many 
of  his  friends. 

The  old  fort  at  Mackinaw  continued,  for  some  time  afterwards,  to  be  a 
rendezvous  for  the  Indians,  the  scene  of  their  brutal  murders  and  horrible 
revels ;  while  Pontiac,  the  instigator  of  its  destruction,  was  carrying  out, 
in  other  places,  his  plans,  evincing  in  every  movement  a  wonderful  skill,  and 
as  ardent  a  patriotism  as  ever  fired  the  heart  of  man. 


im  with 
ive  lan- 

10  choso 
against 
it  tears. 
Iged  his 
en  him 
iry  was 
and  his 
wrought 
-Wii-tiin 

Li  know 
lom,  as 
ou,  hke 
I  slave; 
:?    See 

;m  as  a 
hat  no 
gether. 
e  your 

where 
1  tinned 
I  many 


0  be  a 
orrible 
ig  out, 
11,  and 


MICIIILIMACKINAC. 


The  influence  of  Pontine  over  the  Indians,  can  only  be  nscribed  to  the 
natural  gift  of  mind  tliat  he  possessed.  He  performed  no  heroic  deeds,  to 
surprise  into  admiration  and  respect  his  fellow-men.  No  Indian  ever 
exerted  so  remarkable  a  power  as  he;  it  continued  during  his  life,  and  it 
was  felt  long  after  his  death.  Without  the  eloquence  of  Red  Jacket,  his 
language  was  nervous;  and  his  sentiments,  and  the  utterance  of  them,  were 
so  fearless  that  he  had  only  to  speak,  and  be  obeyed.  His  was  not  a  spirit 
to  brook  an  insult,  nor  to  delay  revenge;  yet  he  took  no  delight  in  deeds  of 
blood.  He  was  generous  and  honorable ;  and  in  reviewing  his  history  with 
that  of  the  times  in  which  he  lived,  we  have  no  reason  to  doubt  that  his 
course  towards  the  English  was  impelled  by  an  ardent  love  of  country,  and 
not  by  the  delight  in  sanguinary  warfare  that  has  always  characterized  the 
red  men, 

Pontiac  endeavored  to  reduce  Detroit — the  most  important  position 
occupied  by  the  English — in  person.  There  were  one  hundred  and  thirty 
persons  in  the  garrison ;  and,  knowing  that  no  danger  could  be  suspected 
there  from  him,  he  hoped  to  carry  it  at  a  blow,  by  stratagem.  Accordingly, 
he  marched  to  the  gates  of  the  town,  accompanied  by  three  hundred  of  his 
men,  and  asked  to  see  the  oiBcer  in  command.  Each  warrior  carried  under 
his  blanket  a  rifle,  sawed  off  so  short  as  to  be  easily  concealed.  The  under- 
standing among  the  Indians  was,  that  at  the  moment  Pontiac  should  present 
the  officer  with  a  belt  of  wampum  in  a  particular  manner,  they  should  com- 
mence to  massacre,  and  directly  open  the  gates  to  their  fellows,  who  were 
to  be  in  waiting  on  the  outside.  The  pillage  promised  to  be  great;  for 
there  were  stored  in  Detroit  a  large  quantity  of  valuable  goods  at  that  time. 

The  compassion  of  an  Indian  woman  arrested  this  bold  design.  The 
evening  before  the  appointed  day  for  putting  it  in  practice,  she  brought  to 


80 


MICiriLIMACKIxNAC. 


H   i 


the  fort  a  pair  of  moccaNhiH  for  Major  Gladwin,  the  commandant.  lie  paid 
her  handsomely,  and  ordered  otherw  of  the  same  Mort  to  be  made.  The 
woman  seemed  unwillin;,'  to  leave;  but  would  not  tell  the  servant  why  eho 
lingered.  When  the  officer  observed  her  conduct,  and  ahked  lier  the  cause 
of  her  tarrying,  she  said  that  ho  Imd  always  been  kind  to  her,  and  that  she 
did  not  wish  to  take  away  the  elk  skin  for  making  him  more  moccasins, 
lest  she  should  never  bo  able  to  deliver  them  to  him.  Nor  did  she  stop 
until  she  had  disclosed  the  plot  that  was  ripe  for  the  destruction  of  the 
white  men. 

While  the  voices  of  the  Indians,  carousing  and  dancing,  were  heard 
outside  of  the  garrison  through  the  night,  active  preparations  were  making 
within  against  morning  for  the  reception  of  Pontiac.  Hardly  had  it  dawned 
when  the  warning  of  the  woman  was  confirmed;  for,  from  the  distance, 
came  the  loud  songs  of  the  Indians,  as  they  celebrated  their  war-dance. 
Then  they  proceeded  to  the  garrison,  and  asked  for  admittance.  TLty  were 
suffered  to  enter,  and  as  they  wished  to  meet  the  olllcera  in  council,  they 
were  at  once  conducted  to  the  place  set  apart  for  the  purpose. 

Pontiac  observed  the  great  order  and  attention  that  existed  among  the 
troops,  as  he,  with  his  warriors,  pa.«sed  through  the  town ;  and  he  spoke  of 
this  to  the  British  officer,  who  replied  that  it  was  necessary  alwa^  s  to  keep 
up  a  certain  military  precision. 

When  arrived  at  the  council-house,  the  chieftain,  impatient  of  any  delay, 
addressed  the  commander.  His  language,  always  strong,  was  now  fierce  and 
menacing,  and  his  eye  was  vivid  with  an  expression  that  better  denoted  the 
feeling  of  that  soul  than  the  words  that  sprang  from  his  lips.  His  warriors 
listened  with  intense  interest,  and  as  they  gazed  upon  the  belt  of  wampum 
in  the  hands  of  their  leader,  their  countenances  showed  their  keen  desire 
to  discover  the  appointed  time  to  strike.  It  had  nearly  arrived,  when,  as 
the  language  of  Pontiac  grew  more  vehement,  and  his  hands  were  extended, 
ready  to  proffer  the  wampum,  suddenly  was  heard  the  roll  of  the  drum;  and 
at  the  same  moment  the  swords  of  the  British  officers  were  drawn  from 
their  scabbards,  and  the  bayonets  of  the  guard  were  levelled  at  the  Indians. 
Even  the  brave,  proud  Pontiac  trembled;  his  countenance  lost  its  vigorous, 
fiery  expression ;  his  voice,  its  fierce,  insolent  tone.  Instead  of  adopting 
the  concerted  form  of  presenting  the  wampum,  the  signal  agreed  upon,  he 
handed  it  to  Major  Gladwin  in  an  ordinary  way.     The  commandant  ap- 


MIC  II  I  M.MACKINAC. 


81 


proiichcd  the  Ottawa,  and,  drawing  nrndc!  liis  blanket,  pointt-d  to  IiIh  rlllo; 
thon,  upbraiding  iiini  with  dm-it  and  porddy,  he  ordcrud  liiin  from  the  Ibrt. 
The  chief  paaned  out  silently  with  his  warriors;  but,  having  attained  the 
outside  of  the  garrison,  they  fired  upon  it,  filling  the  air  with  hideous  yells. 
Disappointed  in  their  stratagem,  the  Indians  made  up  for  the  failure  by 
destroying  the  Knglish  settlers  in  the  neighborhood. 

When  Pontine  was  reproached  by  the  young  men  for  not  giving  the 
signal,  he  said  that  he  did  not  wish  to  put  in  jeopardy  the  lives  of  any  of 
his  warriors;  but  he  promised  that,  if  they  chose  to  venture,  he  would  give 
them  an  opportunity  of  showing  their  courage.  Jle  then  sent  word  to  Major 
(Jladwin,  in  order  to  wipe  away  every  cause  of  suspicion,  that  he  would 
bring  all  hia  old  and  young  men  to  take  him  by  the  hand,  and  added  to 
this  many  protestations  of  friendship.  On  the  next  day,  sixty-four  canoes  of 
Indians  landed  near  the  fort,  and  sent  messengers  to  the  commandant,  asking 
admission  to  hold  a  council.  The  request  was  refused  to  admit  them  all, 
but  permission  was  given  to  forty  or  fifty  to  come  in.  The  messengers 
returned  to  the  other  Indians,  and  for  a  time  they  appeared  to  be  discussing 
what  course  they  would  pursue.  The  result  was,  they  left  hastily,  with 
many  wild  and  dreadful  shouts  of  vengeance.  More  English  settlers  fell 
under  the  blow  of  the  tomahawk;  and  Pontiac,  neither  discouraged  nor 
discomfited,  vigorously  prepared  to  besiege  the  garrison— a  remarkable  event 
in  the  annals  of  Indian  warfare. 

The  English,  while  making  every  effort  for  defence,  were  oppressed  with 
the  most  gloomy  forebodings  of  their  fate.  They  saw  tlie  Indians  constantly 
swelling  in  numbers,  and  were  concealing  themselves  behind  the  houses  and 
barns  of  the  town,  and  firing  upon  them.  They  had  but  three  weeks'  pro- 
visions in  the  fort— allowing  each  person  a  small  quantity  for  a  day ;  so 
that  they  determined  to  embark  in  two  large  vessels  that  lay  off  in  the 
water,  and  endeavor  to  reach  Niagara. 

The  French  settlers,  who  from  long  intercourse  with  the  Indians  knew 
perfectly  their  peculiarities,  assured  Major  Gladwin  that  Pontiae  would  not 
think  of  storming  the  fort.  The  English,  notwithstanding,  proposed  terms 
of  peace,  through  the  French  residents ;  and  the  leader  desired  that  Major 
Campbell  and  another  officer  might  come  out  to  talk  with  him  in  his  camp. 
The  officers  volunteered  to  accede  to  his  wishes,  and  thus,  having  placed 
themselves  in  his  power,  they  were  made  prisoners.     The  chief  then  made 


II 


r 


ifi 


82 


MICIIILIMACKIXAC. 


proposals  to  the  Eiiolish  that  tliey  should  Iny  down  their  arms  and  sur- 
render,  which  bei:ig  refused,  hostilities  were  directly  recommenced  against 
the  garrison. 

Many  and  severe  were  the  privations  sustained  during  the  siege.  All 
the  soldiers  were  kept  on  the  alert,  sleei^ing  in  their  clothes.  The  Indians 
in  their  camp,  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  fort,  continued  their  war  songs, 
and  to  profit  by  every  opportunity  of  annoying  their  enemies. 

Troops  were  sent  from  Niagara  to  strengthen  the  command  at  the  fort. 
Pontiac  saw  them  aiiproach,  and  his  warriors  met  and  massacred  them  with 
unparalleled  cruelties.  A  vessel  approached  with  stores,  having  fifty  men 
concealed  in  the  hold,  which  the  Indians  attempted  to  board  from  their 
canoes,  when,  at  a  signal  from  the  captain,  the  men  rushed  from  their  hiding- 
places  and  fired  upon  them.  They  fled  in  confusion,  having  many  killed 
and  wounded.     The  vessel  safely  reached  the  fort. 

Pontiac  made  every  effort  to  destroy  vessels;  but  the  English  were 
becoming  experienced  in  Indian  strategy.  While  the  savages  constructed 
rafts  to  the  intent  of  firing  them,  that  they  might  float  u:v.n  and  consume 
the  vessels,  the  English  took  measures  that  prevented  the  success  of  the 
plan. 

Of  the  two  officers  who  went  out  to  talk  with  the  chief,  one  of  them 
escaped.  Campbell  was  killed  without  the  permission  of  the  chief,  much 
to  his  regret ;  he  condemned  the  act  as  disgraceful,  and  for  some  time  made 
every  exertion  to  apprehend  the  murderer. 

Pontiac,  who  felt  certain  of  driving  the  English  from  the  country, 
imparted  to  the  Indians  all  of  his  fervor;  but,  after  failing  in  the  siege  of 
Detroit,  the  warriors  perceived  they  could  not  cope  with  the  whites,  and 
even  their  leader  appears  to  have  lost  much  of  his  confidence.  The  tribes 
that  had  been  drawn  into  the  war  by  him,  brought  in  their  prisoners  to  the 
fort,  and  desired  peace.  But  though  Pontiac  withdrew  with  a  diminished 
number  of  adherents,  the  English  still  feared  him,  and  were  always  in  ex- 
pectation of  an  attack.  The  arrival  of  three  thousand  soldiers  at  Niagara, 
on  their  way  to  the  northwest,  awed  the  Indians,  and  prepared  the  way  for 
treaties  with  them.  A  council  was  held,  two  thousand  warriors  being 
present,  in  which  the  strongest  allies  of  Pontiac  went  over  to  the  side  of  his 
enemies,  and  when  the  large  English  force  reached  Detroit,  treaties  of  peace 
were  concluded  with  most   of  the   Indian  tribes.     Pontiac,  mournful  but 


MIC'IIILIMACKIXAC. 


83 


ns  and  sur- 


iinsubdued,  left  his  country  and  went  to  tlie  Illinois  Indians.  He  hoped  to 
make  new  and  more  successful  efforts  for  the  redemption  of  his  people.  For 
his  country  only  he  lived ;  the  darker  her  prospects,  the  stronger  was  his 
love  for  her,  and  ti.e  more  extreme  his  exertions.  While  still  at  work  for 
her  sake,  death  closed  his  projects  and  hopes,  and  relieved  the  English  of  an 
inveterate  foe.  He  fell  while  presiding  in  council,  in  the  year  1767,  by  the 
hand  of  a  Peorian  Indinn.  Some  have  supposed  his  murderer  to  have  been 
an  English  spy;  if  so,  he  was  probably  a  personal  enemy,  for  the  very  name 
of  Pontiac  was  loved  throughout  the  Indian  tribes j  and  as  a  proof  of  the 
unequalled  influence  tliat  he  exerted,  his  death  was  amply  avenged,  not 
only  upon  the  Peorians,  but  upon  the  tribes  that  ventured  to  assist  them  in 
a  defence.  Two  of  them  were  exterminated.  As  long  as  a  Ked-man  trod 
the  soil  over  which  he  walked,  or  lived  those  who  obeyed  his  counsel,  the 
name  of  Pontiac  was  honored  and  revered. 

It  is  said  of  him,  that  so  earnest  was  he  in  his  wish  that  the  Indians 
should  learn  the  useful  arts  of  the  white-man,  that  at  one  time  he  entreated 
Major  Rogers  to  take  him  to  England,  that  he  might  acquire  information, 
and,  returning  home,  impart  it  to  his  people.  His  power  as  a  leader  was 
unlimited.  No  Indian  ever  disputed  his  commands.  Honorable  himself, 
he  confided  in  the  honor  of  others.  An  inebriating  draught  was  sent  him 
by  an  Englishman.  His  wise  men  advised  him  not  to  taste  it,  as  it  might 
be  poisoned.  Pontiac  laughed:  "He  cannot  take  my  life,"  he  said;  "I 
have  saved  his." 

The  present  fort  of  Michilimackinac,  that  subsequently  passed  from  the 
English  control  to  that  of  the  United  States,  is  now  garrisoned  with  our 
troops.     It  is  built  on  the  island,  to  be  Sv.-n  in  the  picture  of  the  Old  Fort. 

The  island  is  beautiful.  The  ground  in  the  middle  is  higher  than  else- 
where,  and  gives  to  it  the  general  appearance  of  the  back  of  a  turtle.  It  is 
rocky  towards  the  top,  and  thickly  wooded.  In  the  mountain  is  a  cave, 
with  an  entrance  ten  feet  in  width,  which  was  formerly  full  of  human 
bones.  The  Indians,  when  this  cave  was  first  seen  by  the  English,  had 
different  opinions  as  to  the  purpose  for  which  it  had  been  used.  Some 
declared  that  when  the  whole  world  was  overflown  with  water,  the 
people  of  this  island  took  refuge  in  it,  and  there  perished.  Some  said  the 
Hurons  attacked  them,  and  massacred  theni  here;  while  another  opinion 
was  that  advanced  by  Henry,  the  English  trader,  who  was  hidden  in  this 


84 


MICIIILIMACKINAC. 


place  by  his  guardian  friend,  Wa-wa-tdn,  from  the  fury  of  the  Indians  He 
heheved  it  to  be  the  ancient  receptacle  of  the  bones  of  prisoners,  sacri- 
ficed and  devoured  at  war  feasts;  for  the  Indians  preserve  entire  the  bones 
of  sacrifices,  keeping  them  in  some  place  devoted  to  that  purpose,  and  these 
were  unbroken. 

Thus  are  sometimes  found  on  our  islands  and  mountains  strange  relics 
of  the  people,  numerous  and  brave,  that  have  passed  away;  but  they  recall 
only  legends  of  the  Indian,  or  some  imperfect  history  of  the  past  in  the 
records  of  the  enemy  of  his  race. 


i     Ui    i 


nm 


rndians.  He 
soncrs,  sacri- 
re  the  bones 
se,  and  these 


trange  relics 

t  they  recall 

past  in  the 


I"       \i 


II 


BALL  PLAY  ON   THE   PllAIRIE. 


The  vast  prairies  of  the  West,  united,  form  a  stage  upon  which  are 
enacted  tlie  ever-varying  scenes  in  the  drama  of  the  red  man's  life 
Spreadmg  eastwardly  towards  the  Mississippi  River,  they  extend  west- 
wardly  to  the  snow-capped  mountains  that  tower  beside  and  limit  them 
Many  streams  appear  in  those  fields  of  waving  grass  and  shrubs,  to  vary 
the  picture,  are  dissipated  by  the  winds  of  heaven,  or,  bending  towards  some 
dark  chasm,  they  sink,  and  the  eye  follows  them  no  more. 

It  may  be  that,  for  many  miles,  the  traveler  can  only  look  upon  the 
scorched  and  sandy  earth;  then,  wearied  with  gazing  at  so  much  desolation, 
with  pleasure  he  greets  the  appearance  of  some  lovely  vale  inclosed  by  lofty 
hills,  whence  flow  rivulets  of  sparkling  water.  He  passes  on,  and,  r<^sting 
on  an  eminence,  beholds  with  amazement,  stretching  before  his  view  ugain" 
the  limitless  prairie,  not  sterile  and  unattractive  as  before,  but  covered  with 
many-shaded  green,  on  which  bloom  the  wild  passion  flower,  the  sensitive 
plant,  and  many  shrubs  more,  as  beautiful  as  they.  His  shadow  lengthens 
as  It  falls  upon  the  sea-like  plain,  and  with  awe  he  beholds  the  sun,  the 
Indian's  god,  as,  sinking  lower  and  lower  to  the  horizon,  he  vanishes  from 
view,  leaving  the  heavens  crimson  in  light,  and  the  earth  warm  and  glowing 
from  his  presence. 

The  traveler  sleeps,  and  wakes,  and  journeys  on,  and,  wondering,  sees 
the  same  rich  verdure,  the  same  fair  tints.  At  evening  he  watches,  with  a 
similar  awe,  the  departure  of  the  light  of  day.  When  night  comes,  he 
looks  around.  There  may  be  no  landmark  to  tell  him  where  he  is.  The 
stars  in  the  blue  expanse  above  irradiate  the  ocean  over  which  he  has 
passed,  and  on  which  he  is  now  reposing.  For  weeks  he  may  travel  to 
whichever  point  he  will,  and  still  that  prairie  rolls  out  before  him;  the 
land,scape  only  varied  by  some  lone  peak,  that  towers  a  guide  to  the  wan- 


80 


MALI.    I'LAV    UN    TIIK    I'll  A  I  HIE. 


deror,  or  by  n  grove  of  trees,  in  tlio  Hlmde  of  wliiih  he  may  resl  aii.l 
refresh  Iiiinscilf,  or  by  ii  stream  or  viile ;  but,  these  once  passed,  he  is 
again  npon  the  interminable  waste. 

The  prairie  in  northern  hititudes  is  little  disturbed  in*  spring,  when  the 
snow  is  breaking  away,  and  the  hard  ground  yields  to  the  inlbienoe  of  a 
genial  sun.  Scarcely,  however,  has  the  snow  melted,  when  the  first  flowers 
of  the  season  creep  out.  As  the  grass  starts  into  new  life,  other  and  a 
different  bloom  unfolds  in  it.  Each  day  brings  a  warmer  sun,  and  a  livelier 
coloring  in  the  carpet  of  nature,  that  gives  place  to  another,  in  a  few  weeks, 
of  forms  as  lovely.  In  the  month  of  June,  there  is  a  vast  flower-garden, 
where,  a  short  season  before,  lay  the  pure  white  snow. 

The  Indian,  after  a  long  period  of  cold  and  suffering,  lives  again  with 
the  vegetation  of  the  praiiie.  He  soon  forgets  how  sorely  famine  pressed 
upon  him,  as  he  shivered  across  these  very  plains  seeking  tracks  of 
deer  or  buffalo,  and  praying  with  drooping  heart  for  success  that  his  family 
might  have  food.  The  Indian  woman  thinks  no  more  of  her  sadness  and 
her  tears.  She  goes  with  her  children  to  gather  the  ripe  strawberries,  that 
cluster  in  numbers  on  the  ground,  and  there  treads  out  the  infant  life  on  a 
thousand  stems. 

Planting  the  poles  of  her  summer-house  in  the  ground,  she  tears  away 
the  delicate  white  moccason  flower;  and  why  not?  there  are  hundreds  in 
her  sight,  even  on  the  edges  of  the  dangerous  rocks,  where  her  children 
are  wistfully  eying  those  that  lie  in  the  moss,  beyond  their  reach,  and 
despising— sure  mark  of  humanity— what  they  can  easily  obtain. 

The  red-men  now  traverse  the  prairies  on  their  steeds,  that  scatter  with 
their  hoofs  the  wild  roses.  Alas!  that  the  heart  of  the  warrior  should  be  so 
turned  to  scenes  where  blood  is  ever  flowing,  that  it  noluing  cares  for  this 
simple  but  wondrous  beauty  of  his  native  land.  The  Indian  proverb  that 
declared  gold  to  be  "the  tears  wept  by  the  sun,"  should  liave  recorded  in 
some  such  language  the  birth  of  the  prairie  flowers. 

Each  month  changes  the  aspect  of  the  prairies  of  the  West,  and  new 
sprays  put  forth,  to  replace  the  bloom  of  those  that  are  fast  fading  away. 
Each  variety  revels  in  its  short  life,  and  another  rises  upon  its  fragrant 
grave.  Thus  it  is,  until  come  the  autumn  winds  with  their  harsh  breath, 
and  from  the  tender  stalks  scatter  the  leaves  around. 

How  beautifid  is  the  liistory  of  these  flowers!     No  mortal  eye  watches 


liALL   PLAY   ON   THE   I'llAIlUE. 


87 


thoir  iii.Hi,.i,igi„g_„o  Liortal  hand  cultivates  and  tends.  Tl.e  hand  of  God 
.'..  <  phmtcd  tliem-thc  care  of  God  preserves  them.  As  their  life  is  from 
H.m,  HO  they  die  at  the  changes  of  his  breath;  for  nature  is  God-as  thou 
reader,  wouldst  acknowledge,  if,  standing  on  the  pathless  prairie,  thou  wert 
gazing  where  only  could  bo  seen  the  heavens,  bending  from  above  to  curtain 
the  beauteous  fields,  the  clouds  floating  dreamily  on,  now  light  and  fleecy, 
then  fU  u  in  their  shapes,  but  darkening,  by  and  by,  that  they  may  shower 
upon  all  their  gentle  and  refreshing  rain. 

Summer  and  its  gay  attire  must  pass;  its  fruits  in  plenty  are  enjoyed 
|"Hl  not  untl.ankfully,  for  then  the  red-man  minds  to  keep  the  feasts  his 
fathers  ever  sacredly  observed.  The  ancient  customs  are  renewed  when  the 
earth  is  green  and  full,  inviting  her  children  to  rejoice.  Then,  at  the 
word  of  the  Medicine-Man,  the  warrior  and  the  woman  lay  uside  their 
occupations,  and  go  forth  to  take  part  in  the  ceremony,  or  olden  rite  to 
which  they  are  called.  As  the  season  wanes,  there  must  be  naught  of  self- 
reproach  from  neglect  of  the  duties  of  their  religion,  lest  many  sorrows 
overtake  them. 

In  the  picture,  the  prairie,  overshadowed  by  changing  skies  and  encircled 
by  rivers  and  the  sloping  hills,  is  the  scene  of  one  of  the  Indian  games  of 
strength  and  recreation.     The  manner  of  conducting  this  game  is  the  same 
as  has  been  described  in  the  ball  play  on  the  ice.     Yet  the  Indian  cannot 
enter  into  the  spirit  of  the  game,  in  summer,  on  the  plain,  with  the  same 
delight  he  feels  when  he  performs  it  in  midwinter,  on  the  ice;  he  needs  the 
music  of  the  north  wind  to  animate  him,  and  his  limbs  are  not  so  active 
as   when  his  system  is  invigorated  by  cold.     While  the  grass  is  green  and 
a  warm  sun  shines  above  him,  he  cares  little  for  the  offered  stakes-the  food 
and  the  clothing.     Were  the  cold  days  of  January  hero,  he  would  bound 
away  far  more  lightly,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  what  he  then  often  needs. 
On  the  prairies  are  to  be  seen,  scattered  about,  circles  of  high  grass 
called  by  the  Indians  «  spirit  rings."     Some  of  the  Dacotas,  who  are  con- 
sidered authorities  in  their  national  lore,  declare  that  they  are  the  paths 
m  which  their  ancestors  performed  their  war  dances.     These  rings  do  not 
describe  true  circles,  and  the  paths  in  which  the  Indians  dance  vary  from 
the  perfect  form  in  the  same  proportion.     They  have  been  observed  to  have 
on  them,  sometimes,  the  great  bones  of  the  bufialo,  and  every  year  their 
circumference  is  extended.     Hence,  some  persons  suppose  they  are  made  by 


88 


DA  Mi    I'LAV   0\    TIFI':    I'llAIUli;. 


the  decay  of  the  bodien  of  miimals,  which  destroys  the  common  heihage  at 
first,  but  HO  strongly  fertilizes  the  earth  thiit  a.u.ther  kind  of  grass  afterwards 
springs  up,  mixed  with  rank  weeds,  and,  by  its  superior  vigor,  overpowers 
the  growth  around  it,  and,  in  the  next  year,  takes  the  place  of  that  it  lias 
destroyed.  Others  think  a  mineral  substance  has  been  made  active  in 
the  soil,  as  cattle  only  cat  the  dark  grass  ibrming  the  ring,  refusing  the 
other.  Those  fairy  rings  look  beautifully,  lying  on  the  smooth  soft  lawn; 
they  appear  to  have  been  planted,  so  regularly  shoots  up  the  tall  dark  blade 
that  forms  them.  The  Indians  reverence  them  as  "  wakou"— mysterious 
and  supernatural. 

There  arc  many  adlicting  scenes  enacted  on  these  prairies  in  the  winter. 
How  fierce  are  the  storms  that  desohite  them!  Families  in  search  of  game 
pass  over  them  day  after  day,  and  night  after  night,-seeing  naught  but  snow 
beneath  their  feet,  while,  from  the  heavy  clouds  above,  blinding  flakes  are 
continually  falling  in  masses.  How  long  they  often  travel  thus  without 
relief!  Often  the  poor  mother  presses  her  dead  child  to  her  heart,  fearful 
to  speak  the  word  revealing  the  secret'  that  must  divide  them.  She  lays  it 
in  its  grave  of  snow,  wrapped  in  thp.  garment  taken  from  her  own  form. 
Oh!  what  a  cry  of  suffering  goes  forth  from  the  vast  prairies  of  the  West, 
and  how  many  lives  pass  away  in  its  utterance. 

The  ball  play  on  the  prairie  in  summer  is  performed  by  the  women  also; 
they  adorn  themselves  gayly,  wearing  olcendohendas  of  calico  in  place  of 
the  cloth  garment  of  winter.  Often  the  day  closes  in,  and  they  are  unwil- 
lingly compelled  to  postpone  the  conclusion,  resuming  the  game  at  another 
time,  until  one  party  has  become  successful  over  the  other. 


eibiigc  ut 
iCtoi'wiirds 

lat  it  liiis 
active  in 
ii.Hiiiff  tlio 
ol't  lawn ; 
ark  blade 
lyaterious 

e  winter. 

of  giimo 
but  snow 
lakes  are 

without 
t,  fearful 
e  lays  it 
vn  form. 
lie  West, 

len  also; 

place  of 

e  unwil- 

another 


1 


I 


i 

i 

m 

1 

1 1 
f  f 

fi'  i 

|; 
,  1 

1 

NAVAJO    WIGWAMS. 


A  FEW  attempts  were  made  to  christianize  the  Navajo  Indians  prior  to 
the  year  1680.     They  are  now  utterly  ignorant  of  the  doctrines  of  our 
rehgion,  living  in  constant  warfare  with  the  Mexicans,  whom  they  hate 
The  greatest  cruelty  was  exercised  towards  them  by  the  Spaniards,  who 
no  more  than  any  other  civilized  people,  have  ever  deemed  it  incumbent 
on  them  to  keep  foith  with  the  wild  tribes  of  America. 

The  Apaches  are  a  fierce  race  of  savages,  living  about  the  region  of  the 
Eocky  Mountains.  Their  name  is  said  to  signify  "men;"  and  to  it  the 
Spaniards  have  long  since  added  other  words  to  distinguish  the  several 
tribes.  These  names  are  taken  from  some  animal,  or  from  a  feature  of  the 
country,  or  peculiar  product  of  the  soil  which  they  inhabit  and  wander  over. 
Nabaj(5,  if  Spanish,  could  well  enough  have  come  from  navaja,  "long  knife," 
a  name  this  people  familiarly  give  to  a  mountain  whereon  there  is  obsidian 
or  volcanic  glass,  which  the  native  inhabitants  split  into  instruments  for 
cuttmg.  The  Navaj(5s  call  themselves  Tenuai,  which  means  men.  They 
make  frequent  wars  upon  the  Indians  of  the  towns. 

The  several  bands  of  the  Apaches  are  the  terror  of  the  people  of  New 
Mexico.  Their  horses,  powerful  and  fleet,  take  them,  their  women  and 
children,  through  the  dangerous  defiles  or  over  the  desert  plains.  In 
nding,  women  assume  the  same  attitude  as  men;  moving  over  the  rocky 
country  as  boldly,  when  changing  their  habitation,  as  the  occasion  may 
require.  They  roam,  for  the  most  part,  between  the  great  chain  and  the 
River  Colorado  of  the  West.  Thoir  southern  limit  was  once  the  banks  of 
the  Gila;  but  now,  mounted  on  horses,  streams  have  not  sufficed  to  fix  their 
bounds.  They  show  less  variation  from  their  ancient  customs  than  almost 
any  other  tribe  of  Indians.  They  are  a  lawless,  roving  people,  bearing 
shields,  iuid  being  very  expert  with  the  bow  and  arrow,  and  in  the  use  o'f 


90 


NAVAJO    WIUWAMS. 


SI      .1!  E  K! ;    I 


the  lance.  Fire-arms  are  not  sold  to  thorn,  and  the  ancient  policy  of  the 
Spaniards  as  respects  the  Indians  in  this  particular  is  now  adopted;  but  as 
many  natives  desire  to  have  guns,  some  of  the  more  thrifty  and  fortunate 
occasionally  obtain  them.  Yet,  without  the  aid  of  these  weapons,  this  fierce 
people  protects  its  rights  and  avenges  its  wrongs. 

These  savages  evinced  an  artful  course  in  their  transactions  with  the  old 
government  of  New  Mexico.  They  would  propose  terms  of  peace  towards 
the  season  of  planting,  or  when  they  wished  to  dispose  of  their  stolen  goods; 
but,  when  these  special  ends  were  gained,  they  were  no  longer  inclined  to 
suspend  hostilities,  but  to  indulge  a  thirst  for  more  blood,  and  a  desire  of 
more  plunder.  This  state  of  affairs,  however,  refers  to  the  period  previous 
to  their  acknowledgment  of  the  control  of  the  United  States;  for  now  that 
troops  are  stationed  within  their  territory,  the  Indians  are  more  cautious 
m  their  movements,  confining  such  outrages  to  a  region  not  protected  by 
our  power.  *^ 

The  Apaches  subsist  principally  on  beef  and  mutton;  but  the  flesh  of 
the  mule  they  esteem  as  the  most  dainty  by  far  of  all  eating.     Most  of  their 
animals  they  get  from  the  Mexicans,  either  by  theft  or  violence.     So  great 
were  their  depredations,  that  at  one  time  parts  of  New  Mexico  became 
desolate  in  consequence,  the  inhabitants   fleeing  to  more   thickly  settled 
rog,ons  for  protection.    Sometimes  the  Apaches,  after  stealing  a  vast  amount 
from  their  cowardly  neighbors,  found  it  convenient,  for  a  special  object,  to 
make  a  treaty  of  peace;  and  then  one  stipulation  they  invariably  required 
was  that  they  should  have  an  undisputed  right  to  retain  the  stolen  property. 
The  lodges  of  the  NavnjY.s  dift-er  materially  from  those  of  the  north- 
western Indians,  resembling  most  the  Pawnee.     They  are  made  of  sticks, 
and  covered  on  the  outside  with  flat  stones  and  earth,  having  a  door  in  front 
ni  the  form  of  a  triangle.     The  fire  is  kindled  on  the  outside  of  the  lodge, 
instead  of  in  the  middle,  as  is  the  usual  Indian  custom.     Recent  travelers 
m  their  country  have  observed  the  remains  of  another  kind  of  habitation, 
but  the  natives  know  not  when  or  how  it  was  constructed.     Sometimes  a 
cave  m  a  rock  affords  a  family  a  temporary  residence;  and  no  more  do  they 
need,  as  they  are  continually  moving  about,  building  new  lodges  or  repairin^^ 
old  ones  for  immediate  use.     They  have  no  villages.     Perhaps  they  have 
fancied  the  steep  mountains,  precipitous  rocks,  rugged  soil,  and  deep  o.uons 
of  their  country  invincible,  and  have  not  associated  themselves  for  mutual 


(     ;fi 


NAVAJO   WIGWAMS. 


91 


protocfon.     The  Navnj(5  joys  to  stand  musing  on  the  edge  of  an  awful 
precp.ce,  looking  far  into  the  depths  at  its  foot,  and  will  bound  from  cra-^ 
to  crag  along  the  almost  vertical  sides  with  the  agility  of  an  antelope.     He 
passes  nearly  all  his  time  in  the  open  air.     A  strange  independence,  the 
result  of  this  life,  pervades  all  conditions;  even  the  women  feel  its  effects; 
for  the  wi  e  leaves  her  husband  with  little  provocation;  but  as  he  has  the 
liberty  of  having  as  many  wives  as  he  chooses,  it  is  likely  he  considers  her 
desertion  no  great  misfortune.     lu  the  service  of  the  better  sort  of  people 
IS  a  meaner  class,  who  do  the  rough  labor  required:  sometimes  males  are 
among  these;  a  state  of  society  that  would  occasion  amazement  among  the 
Dacotas  or  Chippewas  of  the  north,  where  the  wife  and  mother  is  the  only 
menial  of  the  family.  "^ 

_  The  women  are  subject  to  the  will  of  their  parents  until  they  become 
wives,  then  they  are  free  to  do  what  they  will.     They  are  purchased  at  a 
marriageable  age,  and  paid  for  in  horses-from  five  to  fifteen,  according  to 
the  personal  charms  they  may  possess,  or  the  number  of  their  accomplish- 
ments, such  as  in  the  embroidery  of  skins  with  feathers,  and  the  makin.  of 
blankets..     The  zarape   Navaj<5  is  a  sort  of  blanket,  much  esteemed^n 
account  of  its  texture.     It  is  very  warm,  so  closely  woven  as  to  hold  water 
and  IS  consequently  valuable  also  as  a  protection  from  rain.     This  people' 
owns  vast  herds  of  horses  and  goats,  and  excels  the  Mexicans  in  raisW 
sheep.     It  drives  them  from  point  to  point  over  the  country  to  graze      A 
rich   Navajci  leads   a  sort  of  patriarchal   life,  having  many  dependents. 
They  are   considered  members  of  his  family,  serving  him  in  peace,  and 
following  him  in  war  against  their  enemies.     Wealth  is  power  among  those 
.shepherd  chiefs;  the  larger  the  property  is,  the  greater  is  the  number  of 
their  retainers.     When  war  is  expected,  a  chief  is  chosen,  whose  office 
ceases  with  the  emergency. 

^      Wheat  is  cultivated  by  them,  though  not  to  much  extent.     In  plantlno- 
It,  they  pierce  holes  in  the  ground,  deep  enough  to  reach  moisture,  wherein 
the  gram  is  dropped  in  parcels  and  covered  over  with  hills.     The  infre 
quency  of  rain  makes  this  necessary;  and  because  of  the  nature  of  the  ground 
on  the  rivers,  which  absorbs  the  water,  irrigation  cannot  bo  practised  to 
any  certain  degree.     Corn,  beans,  and  melons  are  raised  in  the  least  barren 
.spots,  and  a  few  peaches.     There  is  a  wild  potato  and  the  nut  of  a  pine 
called  pinon  by  the  Spaniards,  upon  which  the  poorer  classes  live  a  great 


02 


NAVAJO   WIGWAMS. 


part  of  the  time.  The  wealth  of  the  Navajus  is  in  their  herds.  No  doubt 
the  animals  curried  into  this  country  by  Coronado,  in  1540,  were  the  first 
of  these  that  in  such  immense  numbers  are  now  raised  here. 

A  lodge  is  never  occupied  by  a  Navajo  after  a  death  has  taken  place  in 
it,  but  is  burned  and  a  new  one  constructed.  When  a  warrior  dies*,  his  arms 
are  placed  beside  him,  and  his  best  horses  are  sacrificed  for  his  use  in  the 
other  world.  Their  mode  of  burial  is  not  peculiar;  but,  as  with  all  Indians, 
they  regard  with  respect  and  tender  affection  the  remains  of  the  deceased. 

The  Navajos  live  in  the  principal  range  of  the  Cordilleras.  Their 
number  is  supposed  to  be  5,000,  or  more.  Their  country  lies  one  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  west  of  Santa  Fe,  and  extends  from  the  Rio  Grande  to 
the  Colorado  River  of  the  West.  Mountains,  table-lauds,  and  valleys  vary 
the  face  of  it;  the  few  rivers  are  dry  a  greater  part  of  the  year,  and  the 
little  watercourses  in  the  valleys  hardly  leave  their  source  ere  they  dis- 
appear in  the  porous  soil. 

The  United  States  having  subjugated  these  Indians,  in  consequence  of 
their  depredations  upon  the  citizens  of  the  region  of  the  lUo  Grande,  there 
is  reason  to  hope  that  some  of  their  neighbors  will  be  more  secure  in  the 
possession  of  their  lives  and  property.  They  have  a  sad  character  for  dis- 
honesty; yet  an  excuse  can  be  made  for  them  in  the  wrongs  they  also 
sometimes  receive,  and  it  is  evident  they  feel  justified  in  this  mode  of 
retaliation.  Some  of  them  'do  not  adhere  to  the  clans  or  families  of  which 
I  have  spoken,  but  live  a  desperate,  vagabond  life,  aaswering  to  that  of  the 
pillagers  or  banditti  of  other  tribes.  A  rich  Navajo  may  own  five  hundred 
horses,  while  some  are  very  poor— glad  to  live  in  a  servitude  that  procures 
them  a  subsistence. 

As  yet,  the  Navajus  know  nothing  of  the  degradation  consequent  upon 
the  use  of  ardent  spirits.  As  New  Mexico  becomes  settled,  there  is  a  class 
of  persons  who  will  make  it  an  article  of  traffic.  But  these  Indians  are 
devoted  to  gambling,  a  passion  common  to  all  the  tribes;  and  horscracing 
is  a  favorite  amusement. 

When  they  have  business  with  the  white  settlers,  they  supcrstitiously 
refuse  to  make  known  their  names,  assuming  Mexican  ones,  that  serve 
them  for  the  time.  When  they  travel  in  winter,  they  carry  a  firebrand  in 
the  hand,  a  custom  descended  from  the  earliest  times. 

Among  this  people,  there  is  a  tradition  of  their  origin  that,  like  many  of 


NAVAJO   WIGWAMS. 


No  doubt 
re  the  first 

en  place  iii 
is,  his  arms 
use  in  the 
ill  Indians, 
deceased, 
'as.  Their 
ic  hundred 
Grande  to 
alleys  vary 
ir,  and  the 
)  they  dis* 

3quence  of 
inde,  there 
ure  in  the 
:er  for  dis- 
they  also 
s  mode  of 
3  of  which 
hat  of  the 
e  hundred 
it  procures 

Lient  upon 
)  is  a  class 
idians  are 


orscracing 


rstitiously 
hat  serve 
ebrand  in 


D  many  of 


93 

trillinc 


the  old  stories  of  the  Indians,  contains  in  the  midst  of  a  great  deal  of 
interest,  many  strong  marks  of  the-r  prevailing  opinions.     It  says  they 
lived  at  one  time  with  the  Indians  of  the  pueblos  and  other  tribes,  and  with 
the  Americans,  under  ground,  in  the  heart  of  the  Naztarny  Mountains. 
Two  dumb  and   ancient  men,  players  upon  the  Indian  flute,  hearing  a 
strange  noise  upon  a  time,  conceived  the  idea  of  boring  into  the  mountain 
to  see  what  they  could  discover.     Some  of  the  smaller  animals,  not  without 
a  conflict  as  to  which  should  be  first,  made  their  way  out  throuoh  the 
hole;  then  the  larger;  and  last  of  iul  came  man.     The  x\avaj(5s  appeared 
first,  then  the  Indians  of  the  pueblos,  then  other  tribes;  each  nation  com- 
mencing,  at  once,  such  occupations  as  employ  them  at  the  present  day 
The  Americans  were  the  last;  they  bent  their  steps  towards  the  sunrise 
The  earth  waj  then  very  small;  it  had  no  sun,  nor  moon,  nor  stars;  only 
a  little  dawn  of  light  continuing  for  a  iav,  hours  at  a  time.     A  council  of 
wise  men  and  old,  determined  to  make  them.     They  built  a  large  house;  in 
It  the  Navaj,3s  made  a  sun,  while  some  of  the  other  tribes  manufactured 'the 
moon  and  the  stars.     The  sun  and  moon  were  given  in  charge  of  the  two 
dumb  musicians,  who  have  taken  care  of  them  ever  since.      After  the 
heavens  were  made,  the  musicians  proceeded  to  the  task  of  putting  the  sun 
oud  moon  in  proper  places.     They  were  near  burning  up  the  earth  at  first 
from  placing  the  sun  too  near  it;  but  they  puffed  upwards  the  smoke  of 
their  pipes,  and  moved  it  farther  off".     Then  they  began  to  make  the  stars; 
these  they  intended  to  arrange  beautifully,  so  as  to  represent  bears  and  the 
like;  but  while  thus  engaged,  a  great  prairie  wolf  rushed  in  and  exclaimed  • 
"Why  are  you  taking  so  much  trouble  to  make  all  this  embroidery?     Just 
stick  the  stars  about  anywhere."     So  the  wolf  seized  the  bundle  of  stars 
and  scattered  them  in  every  direction. 

Eivers  of  water  were  then  made,  and  nature  duly  set  in  motion.  After- 
wards,  the  old  men  made  two  water-jars,  one  of  which  was  gorgeous  and 
beautiful  on  the  outside,  but  contained  nothing;  the  other  was  plain  on 
the  exterior,  but  contained  articles  of  the  greatest  value.  The  tops  were 
covered,  and  the  Navaj(5s  and  Indians  of  the  pueblos  were  told  to  take 
their  choice,  the  Navaj('.s  being  appointed  to  select  first.  They  at  once 
claimed  the  beautiful,  useless  jar,  while  the  plain  but  valuable  one  fell 
to  the  lot  of  the  Indians  of  the  towns.  Then  the  old  men  spoke  and 
said:  "Thus  will  it  ever  be  with  these  two  nations;  the  Navajos  will  be  a 


04 


NAVAJO   WIHWAMS. 


poor  and  wandering  race,  while  the  Indians  of  the  puehta  will  oecupv 
houses  and  bo  rich."  And  thus  it  is  at  the  present  da^.  There  was  a  grea^^ 
gambler  U,en  in  the  eountry,  who  won  all  the  people  possessed,  even  them- 
so  ves  One  of  the  dumb  musicians  laid  him  across  his  bow  and  shot  him 
into  the  heavens,  wheuee  he  returned,  bringing  with  him  the  Spaniards  and 

ne~.  "  """"'  ""'"''"«  *"  *'''  '""''■  '"  M-U  and  can 

Death  too  found  his  way  to  the  outside  of  the  mountain.    His  first 

v,cl„n  was  Ia.d  a«.«y,  but  s«,„  disappeared.     The  dumb  musieians  then 

vent  down  mto  the  mountain  to  search,  they  found  him  alive,  combing  his 

h«,r.     Often  s.nce  he  has  been  heard  to  cry  out:  "All  who  die  will  ™mc 

!nrr  ^rord."      ""-  '"  ""'  ""' ''°"'-"    ""'  "  ^"^  *»  "--^  ™  ""*" 

Then  there  eamc  a  turkey  from  where  the  morning  sb.r  rises,  it  shook 

U.  w,ngs  and  the,-e  fell  from  under  one  of  them  an  ear  of  blue  co™.     TWs 

same  good  b.rd  afterwards  inlr«lueed  white  corn  and  wheat,  and  then  other 

17\  r  .T  """■"  "'"-^  ''^^J^'  ^''^  "'-  «--d;n,estic  animals 
after  they  had  found  their  way  outside  the  mountain,  they  had  lived  upon 
the  wild  ones  in  their  previous  place  of  existence  "veo  upon 

For  a  long  time  nothing  was  heard  of  the  Americans;  but  at  len.-th 
.av,„g  greatly  multiplied,  and  become  a  little  crowded  in  their  home  by 
«-e  sunr.se  they  wandered  back  to  the  country,  greatly  increased  in  Ihef 
to  where  there  was  more  room.*  ' 

Some  have  supposed  the  Navajis  to  be  descended  from  the  Aztecs-  but 
.s  ,mposs,bIe,  at  the  present  time,  to  say  anything  with  certaintre  th 
of  their  or  g,n  or  reI,g,on.     It  may  be  that  all  of  the  wild  tribes  of  Imerica 
avewo«h,pped  the  sun.     Their  creeds  were  doubtless  nearly  ^ZZ 
ismy  me'r.r^'"  ^'"°  -""^  "^™^-  -»  <»  "7  ^a.W,  a./the  earth 

retnlild'tn  ""m  T  "'"'  '°'^'"  °^  "'"  '"^  '■™''8  «""''.  "  -  ^^M  ''O 
leturned  to  earth,  to  impress  this  solemn  message  from  the  spirits  of  the 
dead  u        ,.„,„,„,  „,,,^p^„^,^^  „^^,,,  ^,_^_;^^  bewar   o'       r4!n 

of  the  white  man,  every  Indian  that  embraces  it  is  obliged  to  take  the 


NAVAJO    WIGWAMS. 


95 


'ill  occupy 
i'as  a  great 
)ven  them- 
3  shot  him 
niards  and 
),  and  can 

His  first 
ians  then 
mbing  his 
will  come 
ire  buried 


white-man's  road  to  heaven,  and   yet  no  red-man  is  permitted  to  enter 
there;  l)ut  must  wander  about,  forever,  without  a  resting-place." 

Such  considerations  occupy  but  little  of  the  time  and  thoughts  of  the 
Navnj(5  warrior  or  woman.  Their  wild  country  is  a  type  of  themselves 
From  mtercourse  with  the  Spaniards,  they  have  acquired  a  little  grace  of 
manner.  The  fiercest  Navaj(5,  when  choosing  to  conciliate,  will  embrace 
with  a  show  of  good  feeling,  the  man  whom  his  soul  desires  to  see  dead  at 
his  feet;  but  it  will  be  long,  if  ever,  ere  this  heathen  nation  will  have 
learned  from  another,  the  principles  of  a  religion  that  can  change  the  most 
savage  propensities  of  uncivilized  man. 


it  sliook 
-n.  Thid 
ben  other 

animals, 
ved  upon 

t  length, 
home  by 
n  riches, 

ecs;  but 
ty  either 
America 
dlied  to 
le  earth 

said  he 
i  of  the 
religion 
ike  the 


It  was 


N 


fi 


ir 


tl 


tl 
tl 
w 
in 
w 
0 
th 


COMIIAT  JJKTWKKN  TIIK  O.IUnVAS  AND  THE  SACS 
AND  FOXES,  ON  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


TiiK  picture  ropiVHonts  tlio  lake  pirn-id  mid  siiKiotli,  except  where  tlio 
motion  oi"  the  canoes  of  tin-  coiiibataiitH  disturbH  it.s  watern.  Scattered  on 
the  hroad  expanse,  are  the  IVail  vessels  of  foes;  now  they  part,  while 
the  savages,  taking  aim  with  their  arrows,  are  surely  dealing  death-shafts; 
now  they  hasten  to  unite,  that  the  enraged  warriors  may  use  the  war- 
club  and  the  spear,  and  that  they  may  he  close  enough  to  their  victims 
to  see  the  paleness  of  death  overcast  their  faces,  even  as  the  shadows  of  the 
dark  rocks  fall  upon  the  waters  beneath  them.  Where  two  have  tried  their 
strength,  the  successful  one  has  tossed  the  other  into  the  water,  and  his 
gushing  wounds  are  dyeing  the  lake,  as  weakness  overpowers  him  at  the  last. 
Murder  is  a  consuming  passion ;  no  other  can  live  beside  it.  Man  meets 
his  fellow  with  hatred,  and  to  destroy  is  his  only  desire.  The  spirit  '■  that 
first  darkened  the  earth  with  a  grave,"  is  still  abroad,  and  fiercest  when  the 
created  being  only  acknowledges  the  existence  of  a  Creator,  ignorant  of  the 
love  that  he  has  revealed.  The  Indian  passion  of  revenge  makes  it  almost 
impossible  to  ally  in  friendship  two  nations  between  whom  a  feud  has 
existed.  The  fidl  of  individuals  of  one  party,  makes  retaliation  certain  on 
the  other  side. 

The  picture  represents  an  instance  of  speedy  retribution,  following  upon 
the  act  of  a  triumphing  war-party.  A  number  of  Sacs  and  Foxes  attacked 
the  Ojibwas,  who,  unconscious  of  the  lurking  of  enemies  in  their  midst, 
wcrcs  surprised,  and  many  of  thorn  massacred.  The  assailants  fled,  yelling 
in  triumph,  and  reached  their  canoes  without  the  loss  of  a  man ;  departing 
with  loud  shouts  of  hatred,  and  of  the  joy  attendant  on  success.  The 
Ojibwas  directly  assembled  in  their  large  canoes,  and,  guided  by  the  yells  of 
their  retiring  enemies,  were  soon  in  pursuit  of  those  whose  oars  dashed 

13 


98 


COMBAT  BETWEEN  THE  OJIBWAS  AND  THE 


I  i 


■'1; 


quick  as  thought  through  the  wateiv^,  and  had  not  to  loam  the  rage  of  an 
enoinj  whose  spirit  is  impelled  by  the  sight  of  the  blood  of  friends  most  loved. 
The  bare  chests  heave  of  Fox  and  Sac,  as  they  put  forth  all  their  strength 
to  escape.  They  need  no  vermilion  stain  upon  their  swarthy  faces,  for  the 
strong  eflbrt  they  are  making  Hushes  cheek  and  brow;  and  from  their 
parted  lips  come  breathings  that  sound  hoarsely  over  the  waters,  in  time 
with  the  dipping  of  the  oars.  There  are  no  more  cries,  no  more  shouts;  it 
is  for  life  they  are  struggling  over  the  distance;  and,  looking  back,  they 
count  double  their  own  number  in  the  host  of  avengers  coming  upon 
them.  They  feel  no  fatigue,  no  failing  of  heart.  The  scornful  laugh  of 
the  Ojibwas  reaches  their  ears,  with  shouts  that  intimate  the  consciousness 
that  they  are  rapidly  approaching. 

The  Sacs  and  Foxes  are  too  brave  to  fear  a  foe.  At  the  voice  of  the 
leader  they  cease  to  flee,  and  turn  a  bold  front  t(.  their  pursuers.  Their 
war-cry  is  echoed  by  the  other  party,  and  in  the  next  moment  is  heard 
the  hissing  of  swift  arrows,  the  grappling  of  fierce  enemies,  and  the  defying 
shouts  of  brave  warriors. 

The  canoes  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  are  small,  and  these  some  of  the 
Ojibwas  strive  to  upset;  while  other  braves,  gloating  over  the  work  of 
death,  scalp  and  throw  the  quivering  bodies  into  the  lake.  Very  few 
of  all  the  aggressors  escaped  to  see  their  homes.  The  Ojibwas  returned 
to  delight  the  men,  women  and  children  in  their  villages,  with  glowing 
descriptions  of  their  victory,  and  the  exhibition  of  its  fresh  trophies. 

In  Indian  warfare,  it  is  common  for  a  scalping  party  to  go  several 
hundred  miles  into  the  enemy's  territory,  and  secrete  itself  there  with  the 
utmost  caution,  the  enjoyment  of  a  warrior's  success  being  greatly  enhanced 
by  the  dangers  in  which  he  is  placed,  and  the  stratagem  and  skill  he 
practises  to  bring  oft"  his  trophies  without  peril  to  himself  When  about  to 
fight  on  the  water,  a  few  men  go  stoaltliily  forward  in  a  canoe,  to  observe 
the  number  of  warriors  about  the  village.  They  paddle  ciJutiously  around, 
until,  having  ascertained  the  state  of  afl'airs,  they  return  to  make  their 
report.  Should  their  enemies  come  forth  to  meet  them  on  the  water,  they 
are  prepared  with  heavy  stones  to  dash  against  their  canoes;  and  thus  by 
breaking  the  frail  barks,  the  good  swimmer  is  exposed  to  the  united  danger 
of  the  arrow  and  the  wave. 

Upon  a  time,  one  thousand  Ojibwa  braves  set  out  on  a  war  excursion,  in 


! 


SACS  A  XI)  FOXES,  OX  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


99 


canoes,  against  their  hereditary  enemies  the  Dacotas.  At  daybreak,  they 
arrived  at  a  Large  village,  the  inhabitants  of  which  were  unsuspicious  of 
their  approach.  Though  usually  prepared  for  surprise,  the  Dacotas  were 
now,  many  of  them,  asleep;  and  the  enemies,  observing  the  perfect  repose 
that  pervaded  the  village,  discovered  that  their  fortunate  hour  had  arrived. 
Leaving  a  few  to  guard  the  boats,  they  landed,  and  then  fiercely  and  sud- 
denly made  their  attack.  Fearful  yells  followed  their  awful  war-cry;  the 
screams  of  the  women  and  children  swelled  the  tumult.  As  the  Ojibwas 
fell  first  upon  the  warriors,  the  mothers  hoped,  for  a  moment,  to  escape  with 
their  young  children.  They  fled  for  their  canoes,  but  when  they  came  there, 
discovered  that  they  had  brought  no  paddles.  They  saw,  besides,  that  it 
was  too  late  to  go  back  for  them;  for  the  Ojibwas,  unwilling  that  any  should 
escape — to  make  less  memorable  their  terrible  deed — were  pursuing  them 
with  fearful  shouts.  The  desperate  females,  holding  their  infants  to  their 
breasts,  sprang  into  the  canoes.  Bewilder(Ml  and  despairing,  they  pushed 
from  the  shore  with  a  force  that  carried  them,  for  a  moment,  from  the 
reach  of  the  tomahawks;  but  a  strong  eddy  in  the  current  at  the  point  from 
whence  they  embarked,  returned  them  in  its  circling  force  to  the  place  from 
which  they  had  put  off.  The  Ojibwas  shouted  in  derision,  as  they  grasped 
the  little  boats,  and  tore  away  scilps  with  long  glossy  hair;  silencing  in 
single  blows  of  the  war-club,  the  throbbings  of  each  heart,  already  rent  by 
the  wild  mirth  of  the  enemy,  that  announced  the  death  of  friends,  husbands, 
and  of  fathers. 

Few  escaped  from  the  massacre;   and  they  fled  from   band  to  band, 
urging  each  tribe  of  the  Dacotas  to  revenge.     And  by  such  deeds  is  kept 
'alive  the  torch  of  hatred  between  two  nations  that  must  themselves  die, 
ere  that  feeling  fir  ally  expire. 

The  Sacs  and  Foxes  are  mingled  together  as  one  people.  Their  first 
home  was  on  the  Saint  Lawrence  River,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Green  Bay. 
Moving  westward,  they  have  crossed  the  Mississippi,  pursuing  the  ordinary 
life  of  other  northwestern  savages. 

There  have  been  among  them  men  remarkable  for  genius  and  eloquence, 
and  for  the  warlike  qualities  that  are  so  much  esteemed  among  Indians. 

In  the  war  of  1812,  0»vat  Britain  endeavored  to  enlist  these  tribes  to 
fight  on  her  side.  The  Sacs  and  Foxes  convened  in  council,  to  hear  what 
the  English  commissioners  should  propose  to  them.     Alter  they  had  con- 


100 


OOMBAT   15ETWEEX    THE    OJIBWAS   AND   THE 


Hi 


Uif 


i^' 


eluded,  a  warrior  rose,  and  replied  in  one  emphatic  sentence:  "We  will  not 
fight  for  the  Red-coats,  but  against  them." 

Keokuck,  their  most  celebrated  modern  warrior,  deserved  the  reputation 
and  influence  he  attained.  He  possessed  remarkable  courage,  that  was 
animated  by  a  devoted  love  for  his  people.  Courteous  and  engaging  in  his 
manners,  tall,  handsome,  and  of  noble  appearance,  graceful  in  every  move- 
ment, and  most  interesting  in  conversation,  his  people  regarded  him  with 
pride,  as,  in  his  interviews  with  the  rulers  of  other  nations,  he  showed  a 
discernment  and  judgment  that  proved  of  the  greatest  value  to  them. 

When  he  spoke,  his  eloquence  and  distinct  utterance  enforced  attentive 
hearers;  the  richness  of  his  dress  surprised  and  attracted  the  notice  of 
stranger.s  while  the  earnestness  and  elegance  of  his  gestures  gave  an  interest 
to  all  he  said.  Wlien  entering  the  council-room,  where  were  .'>ssembled  the 
commissioners  on  the  part  of  the  white  people,  or  when  meeting  with  his 
brave  warriors  under  the  large  forest  trees  to  consult  as  to  their  own  actions, 
he  always  carried  in  his  left  hand  the  war  banner,  to  indicate  his  position 
as  ruler  of  his  people. 

One  of  the  closing  scenes  of  his  life  Avas  attended  with  great  interest. 
He  had  for  many  years  been  chief,  and  his  people  willingly  submitted  +o  a 
power  and  influence  that  were  so  ably  exercised.     But  the  great  and  good 
have  always  enemies;  and  there  were  those  whose  envious  hearts  could  not 
rest,  when  they  saw  how  unbounded  was  the  affection  with  which  Keokuck 
was  regarded  by  his  people.     Their  tongues  were  forked,  to  use  the  Indian 
cxpression-they  flattered  the  chief,  yet  they  embraced  every  opportunity 
secretly  to  oppose  him.     They  said  that  he  disregarded  the  rights  of  the 
people,  and  that  he  disdained  to  listen  to  the  opinions  of  the  other  chiefs; 
that  he  set  aside  the  ancient  and  honored  customs  of  their  race,  when  it  was 
convenient  to  do  so,  in  order  to  carry  out  his  own  projects.    The  fears  of  the 
Indians  were  aroused;  secret  dissatisfaction  was  followed  by  open  complaint. 
The  chiefs  met  in  council,  and  examined  into  the  subject;  they  decided  to 
leave  it  to  the  people  to  determine;  and  the  result  was,  the  election  of  a 
young  chief  in  the  place  of  Keokuck. 

Neither  murmur  nor  protest  escaped  the  lips  of  this  remarkable  man. 
He  was  too  well  acquainted  with  human  nature,  not  to  understand  the  tide 
of  affairs  that  was  flowing  against  him.  He  quietly  sat  in  his  lodge  or 
without,  undor  the  forest  tree,  enjoying  the  hixurv  of  conscious  intooritv 


SACS   AND   FOXirS,    ON   LAKE    SUPERIOR.  IQl 

and  calmly  foreseeing  the  election  of  a  .successor  to  his  dignities;  and  when 
assembled  with  the  rest,  he  left  his  cause  undefended,  with  indifference 
hearing  himself  accused. 

Afterwards  he  arose,  and,  turning  to  the  new  chief,  was  the  first  to  con- 
gratulate him  upon  his  election,  with  all  the  grace  and  courtesy  that  had 
ever  distinguished  him,  and  showed  in  his  manner  a  respect  that  corresponded 
with  the  title  of  "Father,"  with  which  he  was  the  first  to  address  him.  He 
was  then  an  old  man;  but,  as  he  offered  his  hand  to  the  new  chief,  there 
was  nothing  of  reproach  or  regret  in  his  manner.  He  kindly  yielded  the 
authority  he  had  so  long  possessed. 

The  Indians  soon  regretted  their  course,  and  Keokuck  ever  retained 
his  station  as  the  prominent  man  in  the  councils  of  his  nation.  He  had 
shown  how  willingly  he  was  led  by  the  voice  of  the  people;  the  Indians 
detected  the  true  patriotism  that  had  been  guiding  him  through  life-  and 
while  they  still  called  him  "  My  Father,"  he  felt  towards  them  all,  as  if  they 
were  indeed  his  cLildren. 

When  his  own  kindred  and  clan  shall  have  passed  away,  his  name  and 
remembrance  must  be  held  in  honor  by  the  people  of  the  United  States  A 
large  and  important  town  (Keokuck)  is  now  in  the  place  where,  but  a  few 
years  ago,  one  of  the  noblest  of  our  aborigines  often  sat,  looking  forth  at  the 
beautiful  scene,  conversing  with  hi«  wise  men  on  the  one  absorbing  subject 
to  him,  the  interests  of  his  nation.  The  waves  of  the  Mississippi  swayed 
before  him,  and  above  his  head  towered  the  majestic  hills.  Sadly,  too,  he 
must  have  gazed  as  he  admired,  for  he  could  not  but  foresee  the'destinv 
that  awaited  the  Red-men. 

As  a  ruler,  it  were  well  for  every  people  that  such  a  man  were  at  their 
head,  to  guide  with  his  councils  the  course  of  government.  No  brave- 
warrior  ever  lived.  He  was  the  foremost  when  leading  his  men  against 
their  enemies  on  land;  or,  when,  skilfully  guiding  their  movements  in^their 
canoes,  he  awarded  to  his  foes  a  no  less  terrible  destruction  on  the  water. 


If!  f 


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INTERVIEW    or    II  END  RICK    HUDSON 
WITH    THE    INDIANS. 


The  northeastern  coast  of  the  United  States  was  discovered  by  Sebastian 
Cabot,  a  Genoese,  living  in  England.  The  extent  of  the  voyage  southwardly, 
no  writing  that  is  left  determines;  for  the  undertaking,  not  having  proved 
productive  of  any  great  gain,  seems  to  have  been  regarded  at  the"  time  as 
unimportant,  and  its  incidents  have  passed  away  without  a  record. 

In  the  year  1524,  two  voyages  were  made  to  the  same  coast;  one  from 
France  by  Verrazzano,  and  another  from  Spain.  But  little  more  than  the 
memory  of  them  has  been  preserved.  Both  navigators  probably  entered  the 
harbor  of  New  York.  That  the  Florentine  did  so,  appears  from  a  letter 
written  by  himself;  and  the  Spaniard,  by  an  ancient  map,  made  ten  years 
afterwards,  whereon  the  North  River  is  traced,  and  the  shore  to  the  east- 
ward of  it,  marked  with  the  name  of  the  commander,  "Estevan  Gomez." 

Over  a  century  after  the  discovery  of  America,  Hudson,  an  Englishman, 
who  had  already  made  two  voyages  to  the  northern  and  eastern  parts  of 
this  continent,  returned  hither,  again,  to  make  an  effort,  in  the  service  of 
Holland,  to  discover  a  way  to  the  Spice  Islands  of  India.  On  our  shores  he 
first  landed  where  Portland  now  stands;  and,  having  made  .ome  repairs  to 
his  ship,  and  plundered  the  natives,  he  ran  southwardly  as  f-ir  as  Chesa- 
peake  Bay-which  the  Spaniards  had  named,  some  fifty  years  before,  Santa 
Maria— and  then  returned  to  the  northward. 

On  the  third  day  of  September,  in  the  year  1609,  Hudson  anchored 
withm  Sandy  Hook.  He  proceeded  leisurely  to  pass  up  the  Narrows,  and 
to  examine  the  shores,  exploring  the  different  openings  of  the  Manna-hata 
Bay.  On  the  twelfth,  he  sailed  up  the  stream,  which  since  bears  his  name, 
amid  some  of  the  most  picturesque  scenery  of  the  country,  until  he  came' 
opposite  to  where  at  present  stands  the  town  of  Hudson.    Thence,  in  a  boat, 


ir.'  •' " 


104 


INTER  VIEW    OF 


the  Dutch  aseondcd  the  river  for  ten  dnys  from  the  time  of  leaving  the 
mouth,  the  country  gradually  rising  on  either  hand,  until  they  cnme  into 
the  Highlands.  The  ship's  boat,  with  five  hands,  Avent  as  far  as  the  point 
where  now  stands  the  city  of  Albany. 

During  the  voyage  up  tho  river,  the  Indians  on  the  shores  were  found 
to  be  kind  and  generous.  Ar  thry  ..cre  anxious  to  own  the  knives  and 
hatchets  of  the  strangers,  thoj  brought  grapes  and  pumpkins,  and  skins  of 
animals  to  barter  for  tbem.  Some  of  the  natives  who  saw  Hudson  treated 
him  with  respect ;  they  dressed  venison  after  their  own  fashion,  and  invited 
him  to  eat  of  it  with  them.  At  parting,  they  asked  him  and  his  companions 
to  remain  and  live  with  them.  In  deseonding  tlio  river,  tlio  adventurers 
met  uith  Indians  below  the  Highlands  that  were  hostile,  who  lo.st  no 
opportunity  of  shooting  their  arrows  at  the  crew. 

The  men  who  accompanied  the  Discoverer,  found  quantities  of  fine  fish 
in  the  river;  and  they  obtained  from  the  Indians  corn,  tobacco,  beans,  and 
oystens,  whenever  they  wished.  Pipes  of  yellow  copper,  and  various  orna- 
ments were  in  use  among  the  natives,  and  they  dres.sed  their  meat  in 
earthen  pots.  "  But  although  they  were  civil,"  as  the  writer  of  the  journal 
tells  us,  -  and  made  show  of  love,  Hudson  did  not  think  proper  to  trust 
them;  and  would  by  no  means  suffer  any  of  them  to  remain  on  board 
during  the  night." 

In  the  picture,  Ilendrick  Hudson  is  displaying  his  skill  in  diplomacy 
Some  of  the  natives  had  a  fancy  for  lodging  their  arrows  in  Dutchmen's 
hearts.  It  would  be  very  tedious,  very  expensive,  very  troublesome  to  gain 
their  good  will  gradually;  what  then  was  so  potent  as  strong  drink?  It 
would  have  been  u.sclcss  to  offer  them  water;  they  drank  daily  of  the  pure 
springs  that  everywhere  gushed  to  refresh  them.  The  Great  Spirit  had 
provided  them  with  all  things  necessary  for  the  sustenance  of  life. 

The  adventurers  thirsted  for  tho  good  things  of  the  New  World-  so  to 
accomplish  their  ends,  and  on  pretence  of  trying  a  cruel  experiment,  they 
oflered  to  the  red  men  firctoater,  that  they  knew  would  darken  their  souls 
The  Catskill  summits  towered  before  the  vision  of  the  great  navigator,  and 
as  he  strained  his  eye,  to  see  as  far  as  eye  could  reach,  so  was  his  wish  put 
forth  to  grasp  the  future.  As  he  rested  upon  the  shores  of  a  new  country 
he  decided  to  pledge  the  natives  in  a  glass-its  contents,  once  tasted  by 
them,  would  be  coveted  forever.     If,  in  his  dealings  with  the  aborigines,  his 


HENDUICK    HUDSON    WITH    TlIK    INDIANS. 


105 


viewH  wen-  not  sclfiwh,  tlioii  was  ho  (lilllTont  from  other  Kiiropcarjs  who. 
crosHing  the  great  ocean,  rested  on  tJie  borders  of  tlio  New  Workh 

As  an  act  of  courtesy,  loo,  he  offered  liis  new  aeqimintances  a  glass; 
tossing  off  one  himself,  as  if  accustomed  to  the  taste.  The  Indians  hesi- 
tated ;  at  last,  one,  not  being  able  to  resist  Hudson's  politeness— attracted 
towards  him,  perhaps,  hy  the  novelty  of  his  beard  and  large-topped  boots— 
with  the  siiiii)Ie  grace  of  the  savage,  advanced  and  received  the  offered 
poison.     Poi.soii  it  vfiiH.  for  it  bus  nuvde  tb"  Indian  what  ho  is. 

He  drank  and  slept  — slept  as  if  he  never  avouM  wake  again.  Hia 
dreams  were  grand,  bearing  him  away  with  his  nianito  by  his  side.  Never 
were  the  clouds  above  him  so  bright;  nevei'  uero  the  crystal  waters  so 
clear;  never  were  the  shodows  from  the  hills  .so  deep  and  imposing  ,is  now. 

He  lauglis— deep  as  is  his  sleep.  There  is  an  ecstasy  about  his  nerves, 
never  there  before ;  the  muscles  of  his  strong  frame  are  relaxed ;  he  lives 
over  again  all  that  ho  has  ever  enjoyed.  He  wakes,  and  tells  his  friends 
of  the  new  life  that  has  dawned  upon  him.  They  drink,  and  sleep,  and 
dream — and  are  lost. 


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INDIANS   OFFERING   FOOD   TO   THE    DEAD. 


I 


When  the  fathers  Marquette  and  Joliet  traversed,  for  the  first  time,  the 
centrai  parts  of  North  America,  near  the  Great  Lakes,  they  were  a  long 
while  passing  through  forests  and  over  wide  plains,  ere  they  found  the  men 
and  women,  for  whose  conversion  to  Christianity  they  were  anxious  to  labor. 
They  became  wearied  in  crossing  the  great  hills ;  in  traversing  the  endless 
prairies;  in  penetrating  the  dense  woodlands;  in  navigating  the  broad  rivers; 
but,  at  last,  the  peak-topped  houses  of  an  Indian  village  appeared  in  sight; 
and,  with  the  voicei-  of  their  f('llo\v-men,  that  fell  on  their  ears  as  they  ap- 
proached, came  the  hope  tluit  sympathy  and  kindness  were  still  on  the  earth 
for  them ;  and  the  expectation  of  rest,  after  so  long  laboring — of  comforts, 
after  so  many  privations,  animated  them  to  hasten  to  close  their  journey. 
But,  on  a  sudden,  they  cease  to  go  forward ;  and,  looking  in  each  othex''s  faces, 
easily  read  each  other's  thoughts.  Among  whom  had  they  come  ?  Were  it 
not  better  that  they  had  remained  behind,  in  those  dark  woods,  whose  shade 
they  could  still  observe  from  the  summit  of  the  hill  they  are  now  descend- 
ing, at  the  mercy  of  its  fierce  brutes,  than  to  have  cast  themselves  in  the 
way  of  men  unsof' cned,  uncivilized — with  no  God  but  Nature — no  sympa- 
thies, but  such  as  she  had  implanted  ? 

The  timiu/y  that  had  so  completely  overpowered  them,  soon  vanished; 
they  did  not  design  retreating,  yet  how  suould  they  be  introduced?  Adopt- 
ing the  simplest  manner  that  suggested  itself,  they  raised  together  a  loud 
cry,  and  very  soon  the  dooi's  of  the  buflfalo-skin  houses  were  lifted  up,  and 
the  inmates  came  forth.  Well  might  they  look  in  amazement  on  the 
fathers,  whose  dress  and  every  appearance  were  so  different  from  their  own. 
The  downcast  eye,  the  long  black  garment,  the  slow,  cautious  step  of  the 
Jesuit,  were  in  strong  contrast  with  the  tall,  athletic  form,  the  rich  and 
gaudy  dress,  the  proud  martial  air  of  the  hardy  child  of  the  soil. 


r  ?  1 


108 


INDIANS  OFFERING  FOOD  TO  THE  DEAD. 


f    ? 


The  Intlians,  without  delay,  advanced  to  meet  their  stranger  guests;  four 
of  the  oklost  men  came  from  their  midst,  and  led  the  way.  They  went 
close  to  the  missionaries,  and  at  once  proffered  to  tliem— token  of  their 
hospitality— the  richly  ornamented  calumet,  first  pointing  it  towards  the 
sun.  They  led  them  to  their  lodges,  and  intimated,  hy  signs,  a  wish  to  have 
them  enter. 

Within  the  door  of  a  wigwam  stood  an  aged  niiin.  He  extended  his 
urms  towards  the  orb  of  day;  and,  by  his  courteous  gestures,  the  poor 
travelers  knew  that  he  bade  them  welcome. 

The  language  that  he  used  was  entirely  new  to  them.  The  accent.^, 
sonorous  and  soft,  were  unlike  the  vivacious  and  harmonious  sounds  that 
they  had  been  used  to  hear  in  the  palaces  and  in  the  pleasant  cottages  of 
France.  AVhen  they  afterwards  knew  its  import,  they  translated  thus  the 
welcome  they  had  received :  "  The  sun  is  bright,  strangers !  When  ye  come 
to  visit  us,  enter  our  lodges  in  jieace." 

Then  the  natives  conducted  their  guests  about  the  village,  showing  them 
objects  of  interest;  and  while  they  called  their  attention  to  their  medicine 
sacks-their  painted  stones-their  household  gods-looking  up  reverently 
to  the  luminary,  without  which  they  would  have  nor  light,  nor  happiness, 
nur  even  life-some  eloquent  man  preceding  the  group,  harangued  the  curious 
people,  tolling  them  who  the  strange  men  wx^re  that  had  so  unexpectedly 
come  to  them,  forbidding  any  to  annoy,  by  crowding  around,  or  by  askin- 
questions,  wnich,  were  they  to  answer,  it  must  be  in  an  unknown  tongue^ 
So  the  lathers  passed  on  without  being  delayed;  save  when  a  young, 
impetuous  girl  would  press  forward,  and,  withdrawing  from  her  dark  hai^^ 
Its  choicest  ornament,  would  gently  hold  it  forth,  a  gift  to  the  holy  men; 
or  when  an  aged  imbecile  arrested  their  steps,  and  passed  his  long,  bony 
hand  across  their  breasts. 

The  travelers  ate  and  enjoyed  the  food  that  was  kin.llj^  provided  for 
them;  and  the  buffalo  robe  was  spread  out,  that  they  might  rest,  while  the 
matron,  rubbing  their  feet  and  limbs,  went  forth  to  seek  herbs  to  apply  to 
the  many  Avonnds  she  Ibund  upon  them.  So  kindly  were  they  entertained, 
that  when  they  descended  the  bank  to  the  boats,  followed  by  many  hundred 
people,  it  was  with  the  feeling  of  sadness  that  oppresses  those  who  part 
from   benefactors;   though   the  «ivage.s,  uttering  wild  shouts  of  joy,  thus 


INDIANS  OFFElUNa  FOOD  TO  THE  DEAD. 


109 


maiiifosted  the  pleasure  the  visit  had  afforded  them.  They  were  the  first 
white  men  these  Indians  had  ever  seen;  never  before,  and  not  until  Ion" 
after,  were  poverty  and  hunger  known  in  their  homes. 

The  savages  still  worship  the  sun ;  and  often  as  lie  has  risen  and  sunk 
to  rest  in  their  view,  no  ray  of  light  has  passed  to  their  souls,  to  assure 
them  of  an  immortality  that  is  the  destiny  of  all.  The  lessons  of  the  good 
priests  were  heard  and  forgotten ;  as  the  fading  leaf  falls  to  the  ground  in 
autumn,  stirring  lor  a  little  while  with  the  motion  of  the  wind,  and  then 
pressed  under  foot  of  man  forever,  so  wore  the  instructions,  the  warnings, 
the  prayers  of  the  teachers  listened  to  for  a  time  by  the  natives,  compared 
with  their  own  singular  foith,  doubted,  rejected,  and  forgotten.  The 
traveler  at  this  day  will  go  there,  and  the  ancient  men  still  point  to  the 
sun,  as  of  old. 

Yet  is  not  death,  with  the  savage,  only  the  ending  of  life.  Oppressed 
with  languor  and  disease,  his  soul  grasps  the  hope  of  a  future  existence, 
which  will  more  than  compensate  for  all  it  has  suffered  here.  Where  ie  his 
heaven,  and  in  what  manner  will  he  enjoy  it?  The  mystery,  attending  the 
solution  of  these  questions,  adds  to  the  charm  of  what  he  anticipates.  lie 
has  no  fears  that  will  fall  like  clouds  over  the  noonday  of  his  prospects. 
There  are  no  pains,  no  punishments,  in  that  glorious  and  beautiful  country 
where  he  shall  eat  spirits'  food  under  overhanging  oaks,  where  he  shall 
repose  from  the  toils  of  earth,  delighted  by  the  singing  of  birds  that  live 
among  the  boughs.  For  there  is  naught  but  happiness  in  the  city  of  the 
dead;  why,  then,  should  the  warrior  or  the  woman  dread  to  go  there? 
Have  they  not  enough  of  pain,  of  oppression,  and  passion  uncontrolled,  to 
make  them  weary  of  this  earth?  If  thoy  have  sinned,  they  have  suffered. 
The  Great  Spirit,  in  this  life,  when  he  afflicted  them  with  poverty,  and 
wars,  and  sickness;  when  he  took  from  them  their  beloved  ones,  did  he  not 
sufficiently  punish  them?  Is  their  hereafter,  too,  to  be  dimmed  by  more 
privations,  more  penance,  more  tears? 

The  creed  of  the  Red-man  sbow.s  us  that  each  mortal  has  two  souls. 
One  goes  to  enjoy,  through  eternity,  the  society  of  the  friends  who  wait  to 
welcome  it  on  the  shore  of  the  spirit  land;  the  other  remains  to  guard  the 
decaying  frame.  It  watches  the  form  it  once  animated,  and  carefully  shields 
it  from  the  rough  winds  that,  in  passing  over,  must  breathe  kindly  upon  it, 


110 


INDIANS  OFFERING  FOOD  TO  THE  DEAD. 


guarding  it  from  the  souls  of  its  enemies,  whose  fierce  hatred  not  even  the 
desolating  ravage  of  death  can  disarm.  There  are  foes  invisible  and  visible 
about  it;  the  unseen— the  supernatural— and  the  roaming  animals  that 
would  stay  their  hunger  even  here.  So  that,  while  one  soul  revels  in  the 
fullest  enjoyment  in  that  bright  land  where  the  smile  of  the  Great  Spirit 
rests  upon  his  children,  the  other  lovingly  clings  to  the  poor  shrunken  form 
— the  more  devotedly,  that  the  other  has  forsaken  it. 

The  engraving  represents  a  scene,  often  witnessed  by  the  dwellers  in 
Indian  country.  The  dead  body,  wrapped  in  scarlet  cloth,  lies  on  the  scaf- 
fold, near  its  native  hills  and  the  river.  The  medicine  sack  hangs  at  one 
corner  of  the  scaffold,  to  keep  off  all  evil  spirits,  should  they  dare  approach. 
There  is  also  a  small  kettle,  that  contains  food  for  the  dead,  placed  there 
by  mourning  friends. 

The  woman,  approaching  the  scaffold,  holds  her  bark  dish,  in  which  is  a 
new  supply,  that,  like  the  former,  will  be  eaten  and  very  much  relished  by 
an  irreverent  Indian,  or  prowling  bird.  As  she  advances,  she  passes  by 
the  grave  of  another  friend,  who  having  laid  the  usual  time  on  the  scaffold, 
has  been  interred.  The  sticks  placed  around  the  grave,  are  to  secure  the 
skeleton  remains  from  the  wolves.  The  Indian  holding  up  the  bottle,  from 
which  is  to  flow  a  libation  to  the  spirit  of  the  departed,  has,  we  fear, 
recently  stayed  his  own  spirits  by  partaking  of  it.  There  is  that  in  the 
poor  Red-man  that  enables  him  easily  to  learn  evil  of  his  white  teachers. 
"  Drink,"  say  the  latter,  "  when  you  are  in  sorrow,  and  your  tears  will  be 
less  bitter." 

"  The  love  that  survives  the  tomb,  is  one  of  the  noblest  attributes  of 
the  soul."  Animated  by  this  love,  the  savage  selects  the  most  commanding 
and  beautiful  spot  where  he  may  deposit  his  dead.  Formerly,  when  cir- 
cumstances rendered  it  necessary  for  him  to  .-move  to  a  new  hunting, 
ground,  placing  his  lodge  in  another  home,  he  would  collect  the  bones  of 
his  dead,  and  bear  them  with  him.  Before  the  comfort  of  the  living  was 
attended  to,  a  place  was  found  where  might  repose  in  peace  the  relics  of 
his  family- in  his  sight,  where  he  could  often  go  and  sit  beside  the  mound, 
recalling  the  virtues  and  the  many  endearing  qualities  of  the  departed. 
But  he  has  discovered  the  truth,  that  it  is  in  va-n  to  establish  for  himself, 
or  the  honored  dead,  an  abiding  resting-place.     Too  often  must  he  move 


INDIANS  OFFERING  FOOD  TO  THE  DEAD, 


111 


onward,  so  that  he  cannot  bear,  in  his  frequent  journeys,  the  remains  of 
those  who  have  passed  away  from  earth.  He  is  resigned  to  leave  them,  and 
to  go  forward  with  the  living.  In  truth,  this  whole  country  may  be  looked 
upon  as  a  vast  cemetery;  the  graves  may  be  here  and  there  identified  by  the 
Indian's  unchanging  customs ;  the  frail  relics  of  the  dead  still  lying  upon 
the  soil  from  which  the  living  have  forever  passed. 


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rUEBLO  OF  ZUNI,  NEW  MEXICO. 


I 


The  history  of  our  aborigines,  replete  with  incidents  of  exterminating 
warfaro  idohitrous  rites,  and  savage  cruelty,  sometimes  bears  us  to  points 
where  we  are  relieved  by  scenes  more  tranquil  and  attractive,  and  where, 
but  lor  the  mystery  in  which  this  history  is  involved,  it  would  be  delightful 
awhile  to  dwell.  We  find  a  strango  interest  in  lingering  by  scenes  in  which 
the  original  owners  of  our  country  were  actors,  and  especially  is  it  agreeable 
to  contemplate  the  former  and  present  condition  of  the  Indians  of  the 
pueblos  in  New  Mexico. 

The  ancient  town  uf  Cibola  was  ])uilt  upon  a  rock  ;  and  to  enter  there, 
it  was  necessary  to  ascend  a  steep  and  winding  wav  Its  site  is  now  deso- 
late. The  engraving  of  Zuui  represents  a  village  built  near  by — the  modern 
Cibola. 

The  word  ciholo  is  used  by  the  Mexicans  to  designate  the  buffalo.  It 
came  to  mean,  too,  "  the  buffalo  country,"  and  has  been  erroneously  given 
to  the  valley  and  villages  on  the  source  of  the  Gila,  visited  by  the  Spaniards. 
The  inlialiitants  there  had  indeed  dressed  buffalo  skins,  but  they  must  have 
oljtaincd  them  from  the  more  northerly  tribes ;  for,  as  it  has  been  observed, 
the  buffaloes  do  not  range  on  the  Rio  Colorado  of  the  West,  or  go  far  south 
of  forty  degrees  from  the  equator,  and  there  are  none  in  the  upper  valley  of 
the  Rio  del  Norte,  nor  anywhere  in  New  Mexico. 

Cibola  was  the  first  village  that  Coronado  visited  in  the  year  1540.  He 
expected  to  find  it  a  largo  and  populous  city,  rich  in  gold,  silver,  and  precious 
stones.  Tejos,  an  Indian  dealer  in  ornamental  feathers,  the  son  of  a  ti'ader, 
first  reported  its  magnificence  to  Nuno  de  Guzman,  then  the  "  Presidente"  of 
New  Spain.  He  said  that  he  had  accompanied  his  father  in  his  expeditions 
to  the  North,  and  that  he  had  there  seen  the  precious  metals  in  great  plenty, 
and  also  large  and  wealthy  towns;  but  to  reach  that  region  it  was  necessary 


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114 


ruE]JLo  OF  zuSfr,  new  Mexico. 


to  traverse  a  desert  for  the  period  of  forty  days.  Guzman  believed  his  state- 
ments, and  advanced  to  Culiacau  with  an  army,  intending  to  go,  guided  by 
the  Indians,  to  the  "seven  cities."  But  the  many  difficulties  that  beset  him 
prevented  the  accomplishment  of  his  design.  He  remained  at  Culiacdn, 
planting  there  a  Spanish  colony;  for  he  feared  to  return  to  Mexico,  as 
Cortez,  who  was  his  enemy,  had  come  back  during  his  absence.  At  this 
juncture,  Tejos,  the  Indian,  died  at  Culiacan,  and  the  interest  felt  in  the 
golden  region  of  Cibola  slumbered  for  a  time. 

The  government  of  Spain,  in  the  year  1527,  gave  to  Pamphilo  de 
Narvaez  permission  to  conquer  Florida  at  his  own  expense ;  and  the  direc- 
tion of  its  government  when  it  should  be  subdued.     There  were  but  four 
survivors  of  this  disastrous  expedition,  Cabora  de  Vaca,  two  captains,  and  a 
blackamoor,  E.stevan.     In  a  period  of  eight  years,  they  had  traversed  the 
entire  continent  from  Florida  to  the  Pacific  Ocean ;  and,  on  the  way,  they 
had  heard  accounts  of  great  cities,  which  corresponded  in  their  locality  and 
other  particulars  to  those  described  by  T^jos.     When  Cabega  arrived  in  the 
city  of  Mexico,  he  gave  the  Viceroy  of  New  Spain  a  relation  of  his  adven- 
tures.    Mendoga  determined  to  realize  the  golden  dreams  that  once  more 
excited  the  hopes  of  the  Spaniards.    Coronado  had  been  appointed  Governor 
of  New  Galicia,  but  was  in  Mexico  at  this  time.     He  received  the  command 
of  thu  army  destined  for  the  exploration  of  the  region  of  the  "Seven  Cities," 
and  readily  renounced  the  pleasures  he  was  enjoying,  and  the  society  of  a 
young  and  beautiful  wife,  to  grasp  the  wealth  that  he  believed  lay  in  store 
for  him  and  his  companions. 

Previous  to  his  departure,  a  Franciscan  priest  had  made  an  effort  to 
reach  the  land  of  fame.  The  Arab,  who  had  been  one  of  the  survivors  with 
Cabega  de  Vaca,  accompanied  him,  and  a  number  of  Indians  were  of  the 
party;  for  the  Spaniards  wished,  through  these  interpreters,  to  assure  the 
natives  of  their  safety,  that  they  might  be  the  more  easily  brought  under 
the  yoke.  This  attempt  proved  a  failure.  Estevan  went,  with  some  of  the 
Indians,  in  advance  of  Niza,  anxious  to  be  the  principal  instrument  in  the 
discovery  of  the  great  cities,  and  to  swell  the  importance  already  attached 
to  him  by  his  wonderful  adventures  and  hair-breadth  escapes.  He  arrived 
at  Cibola  with  a  great  number  of  brilliant  stones,  and  some  pretty  women 
that  had  been  given  him  on  the  route,  and  a  great  many  Indians,  who  accom- 


PUEBLO   OF   ZU5fl,   NEW   MEXICO. 


115 


panied  him  as  guides  from  the  different  points  he  had  passed.     They  were 
allj  without  fear,  under  his  protection. 

The  people  of  Cibola  imprisoned  Estevan  for  three  days,  questioning  him 
as  to  his  object  in  coming  to  their  country.  He  told  them  that  he  was  sent 
in  advance  of  learned  men,  who  were  commanded  to  instruct  the  Indians  in 
the  true  religion.  They  concluded  he  was  the  guide  of  a  nation  advancing 
to  subjugate  them.  The  caciques  and  old  men  met  in  council,  and  decided 
on  the  death  of  Estevan,  which  they  accomplished.  Thus  was  a  man,  auda- 
cious enough  to  demand  of  people  to  whom  he  was  a  stranger  their  riches 
and  their  women,  suddenly  cut  off.  Most  of  those  who  had  accompanied 
him  were  allowed  to  return.  They  met  Niza  and  his  party  in  the  desert, 
and  gave  them  the  intelligence  of  the  death  of  their  guide.  The  priest, 
feeling  that  his  own  life  was  threatened  from  the  indignation  of  the  Indians, 
divided  all  his  valuables  among  them,  retaining  only  the  ornaments  that  he 
used  in  celebrating  the  services  of  his  religion,  and  precipitately  returned 
whence  he  had  started.  Although  he  had  seen  nothing  of  the  cities  of 
Cibola,  he  gave  a  fine  account  of  them  from  the  relations  he  had  received  of 
the  Indians ;  and,  not  satisfied  with  this,  he  stated  that  he  had  crossed  the 
desert,  and  had  been  in  sight  of  the  houses  of  the  great  town,  and  that 
they  were  resplendent  with  precious  stones.  This  statement,  added  to 
other  accounts,  gave  rise  to  the  expedition  that  immediately  set  forth  under 
Coronado. 

What,  then,  must  have  been  the  disappointment  of  the  Spanish  general, 
and  the  numerous  and  gallant  cavaliers  who  accompanied  him,  when  they 
saw  for  themselves  the  mere  village  of  Cibola — containing,  at  the  most,  two 
hundred  warriors.;  its  appearance  impressing  them  with  the  idea  of  poverty 
rather  than  riches?  Yet  were  they  surprised  at  the  size  and  style  of  the 
houses,  contrasting  them  with  the  dwellings  of  other  Indians.  Those  that 
they  had  observed,  before  coming  to  the  desert,  were  made  of  dry  rush ;  the 
inhabitants  of  that  region  living  principally  on  vegetables.  They  had  eaten 
the  fruit  of  the  ^)«7a-7iof^a,  and  the  bean  of  a  honey-locust,  called  mezquite, 
which,  when  reduced  to  flour,  made  excellent  bread,  that  would  be  perfectly 
good  for  a  year.  But,  at  Cibola,  the  Spaniards  were  liberally  su2iplied  with 
provisions — turkeys  and  Indian  corn.  Here  Coronado  established  his  head- 
quarters, sending  conciliatory  messages  to  the  Indians  in  the  vicinity,  while 


Ms* 


116 


PUEBLO   OF   ZU5fl,    NEW   MEXICO. 


he  had  time  to  look  around  him,  and  compare  the  true  condition  of  the  town 
with  the  glowing  accounts  he  had  heard  of  it  from  others. 

The  arrival  of  the  Spaniards  was  not  unexpected.  The  inferences 
drawn  from  the  statement  of  the  Arab,  had  induced  the  people  of  the 
Province  of  Cibola  to  assemble,  at  the  village  of  that  name,  to  defend  them- 
selves. They  would  not  listen  to  the  terms  of  submission  proposed  by  the 
invaders;  and,  as  they  could  not,  by  Lnguage,  express  to  them  the  dis- 
satisfaction they  felt  at  their  presence,  they  made  gestures  of  defiance;  and 
when  the  Spaniards  advanced  up  the  steep  path  towards  the  town,  they 
rolled  stones  from  the  heights  upon  them.  Nevertheless,  they  were  very 
soon  obliged  to  yield  to  the  fury  of  the  assailants,  and,  in  behalf  of  their 
province,  accepted  a  forced  peace. 

The  Indians  afterwards  told  Coronado  that,  "about  fifty  years  before,  it 
was  prophesied  among  them  that  certain  people  like  us  (the  Spaniards), 
should  come,  and  from  that  part  we  came,  and  that  they  should  subdue  all 
that  country."  So  that  they  were  in  great  fear  of  Coronado  and  his  fol- 
lowers; the  women  and  children  fleeing  to  their  strongholds,  and  only 
returning  reluctantly  at  the  entreaty  of  the  general,  when  assured  of  his  good 
intentions;  for  thq  Spaniards  had  "found  no  women  at  Cibola,  nor  youth 
under  sixteen  years  old,  nor  old  folk  above  sixty,  saving  two  or  three  ancient 
men,  who  stuyed  behind  to  direct  and  govern,  the  youth  and  men  of  war." 

The  Province  of  Cibola  was  situated  in  a  narrow  valley,  bounded  on 
either  side  by  steep  mountains.  The  largest  of  its  cities  was  Muzaque, 
where  the  houses  had  seven  stories.  The  inhabitants  were  intelligent' 
peaceful,  and  honest.  They  claimed  the  two  latter  qualities  as  character' 
istic  of  themselves  as  a  people.  "We  rarely  quarrel;  we  do  not  steal," 
said  the  simple-minded  Indians  to  the  Spaniards,  when  it  was  proposed  to 
leave  over  them  an  alcalde.  They  would  gladly  have  rid  themselves  of 
their  troublesome  guests,  and  they  told  them  of  other  cities  far  more 
wealthy  and  important  than  their  own.  Thither  the  Spaniards  went  after- 
wards; but,  while  they  remained  at  Cibola,  they  observed  many  things  that 
surprised  them,  though  their  consideration  did  not  repay  for  the  disappoint- 
ment in  their  search  for  gold. 

The  town  of  Cibola  consisted  of  a  square  of  houses  united,  without 
streets;  and  within  was  a  court,  common  to  all  the  dwellings.  The 
Spaniards  found  within  the  houses  yarn  made  of  cotton  wool,  and  mantles 


PUEBLO   OF   ZU5ri,    NEW  MEXICO.  117 

colored  and  gay ly  ornamented ;  ear-rings  worn  by  the  natives,  and  parch- 
mcnt,  whereon  the  Indians  were  accustomed  to  paint  representations  of  the 
birds  and  beasts  of  their  country;  tablets  set  with  brilliant  green  stones; 
numbers  of  wicker  baskets,  and  vases  curiously  made  and  painted.  On  the 
walls  of  the  houses  were  pictures  of  animals  and  fowls;  and  "their  cellars 
{estufas)  were  very  good,  and  paved,  made  for  winter,  in  a  manner  like 
stoves." 

They  had  great  stores  of  maize,  and  the  bread  that  they  made  of  it  was 
excellent.  One  Indian  woman  would  grind  as  much  corn  as  four  Mexican 
women  could  in  the  same  time.  Salt  they  obtained  in  crystals  from  a  lake 
in  the  neighborhood.  Their  fuel  was  dried  grass.  When  the  Spaniards 
arrived,  the  Indians  had  carried  away  a  great  deal  of  corn,  but  in  their 
dwellings  were  venison,  the  skins  of  deer,  hares,  and  conies. 

During  their  stay  at  Cibola,  the  Spaniards  observed  that  the  females 
kept  out  of  sight  as  much  as  possible,  « for  the  Indian  men  loved  their 
wives  more  than  themselves."  The  women  wore  long  robes,  reaching  to  the 
feet;  on  the  head  they  placed  a  roll,  when  they  went  to  the  mills,  and  on 
this— without  touching  it  with  their  hands— they  would  carry  jars  of  water 
up  a  ladder.  They  were  very  graceful  in  laeir  persons,  and  braided  their 
hair  in  a  becoming  manner. 

The  other  pueblos  were  built  in  the  same  style.  The  houses  were  not 
all  of  equal  size.  On  the  second  story  was  a  terrace  leading  around  the 
village,  with  doors  opening  within.  Cicuyti  was  surrounded  by  a  low  stone 
wall,  and  boasted  that  it  had  never  been  conquered,  though  efforts  to  take 
it  had  often  been  made.  To  give  security  and  strength,  the  houses  that 
opened  within  on  the  court  were  higher  than  those  opening  on  the  outside. 
The  Indians  kept  their  property  on  the  terraced  roofs.  The  means  of 
entrance  to  the  second  story  were  the  same  as  are  shown  in  the  picture  of 
Laguna— ladders  movable  and  portable,  "  made  of  two  pieces  of  wood  as 
ours  be." 

The  Indians  of  the  pueblos  were  governed  by  a  council  of  old  men, 
though  each  village  had  its  chief.  The  council  had  it  in  charge  to  watch 
over  the  conduct  of  the  young  people ;  the  result  was  a  reverence  for  age, 
and  a  respect  for  all  the  proprieties  of  life.  When  addressed  by  their  elders, 
the  Indians  of  the  towns  preserved  a  profound  silence.  A  man  married  but 
one  wife.     At  some  of  the  pueblos  they  burned  their  dead,  and  with  them 


118 


ruEBLo  or  zu5fi,  new  Mexico. 


the  instruments  of  their  vocation.  Their  knowledge  of  art,  however  limited, 
supplied  them  with  occupations  of  interest.  They  made  and  dyed  cotton,' 
tanned  skins,  tamed  singing  birds  and  wild  fowl,  and  manufactured  pottery 
of  various  sizes  and  patterns.  A  great  deal  of  their  time  was  devoted  to 
music;  and  they  met  together  in  parties  to  play  upon  the  Indian  flute. 

They  never  went  out  to  war,  and  were  not  disturbed  with  the  ambition 
of  conquest;  only  desiring  to  retain  their  own,  industriously  and  happily 
passing  their  time.     There  is  a  delightful  repose  in  the  contemplation  of 
their  occupations,  Avhen  compared  with  those  of  the  Indians  of  the  North, 
who  lived  only  for  war,  hesitating  not  to  cause  to  flow,  and  to  drink  the  life- 
blood  of  their  most  comely  maiden,  in  their  devotion  to  a  false  religion. 
The  sacred  fire  was  not  allowed  to  go  out  by  night  or  by  day.     It  was  the 
privilege  of  the  old  Tnen  to  watch  it,  and  it  is  even  thus  at  the  present  time. 
At  Acuco,  the  Spaniards  found  near  a  fountain,  a  cross  of  wood  around 
which  were  withered  flowers  and  small  sticks  ornamented  with  feathers.    At 
Tutahaco  they  saw,  near  a  grave  that  appeared  to  have  been  recently  made, 
a  cross  of  two  pieces  of  wood  tied  together  with  cotton,  and  ornamented 
with  flowers.     These  slight  tokens  of  the  suffering  of  Christ  the  Redeemer, 
discovered  in  a  heathen  land,  could  hardly  have  failed  to  affect  the  soul  that 
was  not  utterly  hardened  by  the  desire  of  gain,  to  the  need  of  its  fellow 
immortals ;  though  they  were  probably  no  more  than  the  memorials  of  that 
first  traveler,  in  his  wanderings  among  the  Indians,  who  loved  him,  and 
thus  preserved  the  forms  he  taught. 

We  cannot  follow  Coronado  in  his  eventful  route.  It  was  gold  that  he 
desired,  and,  in  his  earnestness  to  seek  it,  he  was  often  deceived  and  misled 
by  the  Indians.  One,  called  by  the  Spaniards  El  Turco  from  his  flowing 
beard,  offered  to  lead  them  truly  to  regions  where  were  gold  and  silver  and 
rich  stones.  Coronado  submitted  to  his  guidance,  fighting  his  way  through 
the  rock  towns,  enduring  cold,  sickness,  and  many  privations,  until  his  eyes 
were  opened  to  the  perfidy  of  El  Turco.  The  first  aim  of  the  Indian  had 
been  to  return  to  his  own  country,  from  which  he  had  been  taken  away 
prisoner;  and  he  also  acknowledged  that  he  had  purposely  misled  the  army, 
hoping  that  it  would  perish  in  the  solitudes  of  the  desert,  and  thus  rid  the 
whole  land  of  its  oppressors.  If  this  were,  in  truth,  his  motive,  the  death 
he  suffered  from  Spanish  vengeance  was  an  honorable  one. 

From  Bigotes,  a  chief  of  the  town  of  Cicuye,  the  Spaniards  heard  of  the 


rUEDLO   OF   ZU^l,    NKW    MEXICO.  no 

range  of  the  buffalo.  They  had  seen  many  animals  of  the  country;  but 
they  could  form  as  yet  no  idea  of  the  size  and  value  of  the  bison.  They 
were  eager  to  realize  the  description  of  Bigotes,  to  behold  the  huge  brutes 
in  dense  masses  blackening  the  face  of  the  earth,  to  hear  their  lowing  as 
they  journeyed  over  tlie  vast  desert  plains.  When  their  wishes  were  grati- 
fied, they  hunted  them  with  an  a.  imotion  that  was  only  equalled  by  the 
pleasure  with  which  they  afterwards  fed  upon  the  flesh.  But  the  bison  was 
forgotten,  when  golden  visions  once  more  gleamed  over  their  path— and 
again  they  followed  them  to  be  disappointed. 

They  heard  from  El  Turco  of  the  great  river,  the  Mississippi,  which  had 
been  discovered  six  years  before  by  Cabega  de  Vaca.  He  told  them  that 
«it  was  two  leagues  wide,  and  in  it  were  fish  as  large  as  horses,  canoes 
that  would  carry  twenty  rowers  on  each  side,  and  which  had  sails ;  that  the 
lords  of  the  country  seated  themselves  under  canopies,  and  that  there  were 
at  the  prows  large  golden  eagles."  He  added  that  "  the  sovereign  of  this 
country  took  his  siesta  under  a  large  tree,  to  the  branches  of  which  were 
suspended  bells  of  gold,  that  resounded  when  agitated  by  the  wind."  Other 
wonderful  things  he  related  of  this  region,  that  only  exi.-^ted  in  his  imagina- 
tion, but  all  of  which  the  Spaniards  believed. 

When  the  soldiers  found  out  the  want  of  truth  in  the  statement  of  the 
priest  Niza,  they  were  so  exasperated  against  him  that  his  life  was  not  safe. 
He  returned  to  Mexico,  to  escape  their  reproaches  and  their  vengeance. 
Coronado,  with  his  cavaliers  and  soldiers,  soon  followed,  having  utterly 
failed  in  the  objects  of  the  expedition.  Disappointed  in  his  ambiUous  pro- 
jects,  he  turned,  as  many  a  wiser  and  better  man  has,  to  his  home,  as  a 
solace  for  the  fruitless  cares  that  had  engaged  him. 

Zuui,  the  modem  Cibola,  contains  four  thousand  inhabitants,  and  among 
them  are  said  to  be  Albinos.  The  Navajc5s  frequently  attack  them;  and 
ni  order  to  destroy  their  mounted  enemies  on  their  way  to  the  town,  the 
people  dig  pits  and  cover  them  over  with  grass.  These  are  made  very 
deep;  and  stakes  are  sharpened  and  placed  erect  at  the  bottom,  that  the 
animals  may  fall  on  the  points.  The  people  still  cage  eagles  and  keep  them 
in  their  houses,  as  they  did  in  the  olden  time,  on  account  of  the  feathers, 
which  are  stiff  and  well  suited  for  their  arrows.  It  may  be,  that  they  al^o 
suppose  the  plumes  to  partake  of  the  qualities  of  strength  and  velocity 
from  the  bird. 


120 


rUEBLO   OP   ZU5fl,    NEW   MEXICO. 


The  Indians  of  the  towns  lived  from  seven  hundred  to  a  tlioiisand  miles 
distant  from  Mexico.  "Wild  tribes  and  vast  deserts  were  between  them. 
The  Aztecs  were  not  aware  of  the  existence  of  such  a  peoi)le,  nnd  the 
Spaniards  first  heard  of  them  from  the  sources  that  have  been  given.  Thus, 
though  in  some  arts  and  in  science,  the  Indians  of  the  pueblos  were  far 
inferior  to  the  ancient  Mexicans,  they  were  more  humane  and  virtuous, 
and  could  never  have  obtained  from  them  their  religion,  their  knowled^-o 
of  husbandry,  or  any  skill  they  exercised.  The  national  character  is  in  a 
measure  altered  by  the  changes  time  has  made  through  their  intercourse 
with  the  people  that  live  near  them ;  yet,  while  their  occupations  were  not 
such  as  entitled  them  to  be  classed  with  the  civilized  of  the  earth,  they 
could  not  be  justly  placed  among  the  barbarous. 

At  the  present  day  they  weave  and  spin,  the  men  knitting  their  own 
stockings.  Dr.  Ten  Broeck,  of  the  United  States  Army,  in  a  paper  contri- 
buted by  him  to  the  history  of  the  Indian  Tribes  by  Mr.  Schoolcraft,  says : 
"  Their  costume  is  singular.  The  men  wear  no  headdress,  except  it  be  a 
handkerchief,  folded  and  tied  around  the  head.  The  dress  of  the  men  is  a 
small  blanket,  or  tilma,  reaching  to  the  waist,  with  a  hole  for  the  head  to 
pass  through,  and  instead  of  which,  some  wear  a  buckskin  hunting-shirt, 
buckskin  knee-breeches,  dyed  a  deep  red,  and  buttoned  up  the  side  with 
brass  buttons,  long  blue  stockings,  tied  at  the  knee,  leggings  of  buckskin 
and  moccasons  of  the  same  material,  with  hide  soles.  A  blanket  thrown 
over  the  shoulder  completes  the  dress. 

"  The  dress  of  the  women  is  a  claret-colored  manta,  having  an  aperture 
to  receive  the  head,  and  reaching  to  the  knee;  and  behind,  a  little  below  the 
knee,  and  is  bound  round  the  waist  by  a  colored  scarf.  Also  pretty  little 
buckskin  moccasons,  to  which  are  attached  leggings  of  the  same  material. 
They  have  a  tilma,  or  square  blanket,  of  the  sort  and  color  as  the  manta 
over  the  top  of  the  head.  For  formal  occasions,  their  mantas  or  tilmas  are 
handsomely  embroidered."  The  women  at  a  dance  wear  huge  pasteboard 
coiffures,  like  turrets,  which  are  painted  symbolically,  and  adorned  with 
feathers. 

We  must  regard  the  Indians  of  the  pueblos  of  New  Mexico,  at  the  time 
of  their  discovery,  as  a  people  that,  without  any  assistance  from  abroad,  had 
attained  a  respectable  rank  among  the  semi-civilized  of  the  earth.  Com- 
paring  them  with  the  other   aborigines,  their  aspect   is  most  agreeable. 


rUKUIiO    OK    ZU5iI,    NEW    MEXICO. 


121 


They  had  no  human  sacrifices;  no  altars  u2)on  wliich  hiy  victims  in  the 
agony  of  a  death  caused  by  the  tearing  of  the  throbbing  heart  from  Its  place; 
no  shrines,  sacred  to  deities  so  exacting,  that  naught  save  life  itself  could 
appease  them.  They  are  still  free  from  most  of  the  degrading  faults  that 
mark  the  barbarous  condition,  and  possess  virtues  that  would  adorn  a 
nation  t'aat  couM  avail  itself  of  better  opportunities  for  advancing  towards 
all  that  society  should  desire  to  attain. 

It  would  be  useless  to  dwell  upon  the  sufferings  of  the  Indians,  during 
the  residence  of  the  Spaniards  in  their  country,  for  most  readers  are  familiar 
with  the  horrors  of  their  rule.  They  were  offered  friendship  and  assist- 
ance; they  received  inhuman  treatment,  and  frequent  insult.  They  were 
robbed  and  turned  away  from  their  liomes,  that  their  conquerors  might  have 
clothing  and  shelter.  Neither  their  rights  as  a  people,  their  feehngs  as  men, 
nor  their  social  ties  as  a  community  were  respected.  Mild  and  kind  as  they 
were,  their  vengeance  was  often  roused;  but,  though  they  bore  hunger  and 
thirst,  and  fought  nobly  when  besieged,  ihey  were  ultimately,  in  every 
instance,  obliged  to  yield  to  the  Spaniards — Christian  by  name — but  barba- 
rians in  their  acts. 

In  the  year  1680,  while  New  Mexico  was  under  the  government  of 
Otermin,  the  Indians  of  the  towns  successfully  rebelled.  They  succeeded, 
after  destroying  many  of  the  whites,  in  expelling  the  remainder,  who  fled 
to  El  Paso.  The  great  cause  of  this  commotion  was  the  desire  of  many  of 
the  old  people  to  return  to  their  ancient  worship  and  manner  of  living. 

In  the  year  1692,  the  country  was  retaken  by  Don  Diego  de  Vargas. 
Owing  to  internal  dissensions,  the  inhabitants  were  easily  subdued  once 
more ;  but  as  there  was  nothing  to  be  gained  by  a  residence  among  them, 
New  Mexico  was  left,  with  some  little  show  of  Spanish  authority  and  occa- 
sional acts  of  cruelty,  to  the  people  of  the  towns,  the  missionaries,  and  to 
the  wild  tribes  that  of  old  were  found  there. 


10 


4 


A 


^  -  ft 


BUFFALO    CHASE. 


Our  aborigines  have  strange  traditions  of  their  origin.  Tliosc  of  them 
living  on  the  Missouri  River,  declare  that  formerly  they  dwelt  within  the 
earth.  "Two  boys,"  they  say,  "upon  a  time,  absented  themselves  from 
home  for  several  days.  At  length  they  returned,  and  informed  the  nation 
that  they  had  discovered  another  world,  where  all  was  beautiful  and  bright. 
They  saw  the  sun,  the  earth,  the  Missouri,  and  the  bison.  This,  accordingly, 
so  delighted  the  people,  that  they  immediately  abandoned  their  subterranean 
abode,  and,  led  by  the  youths,  came  up  to  the  surface  of  the  ground,  at  the 
spot  their  villages  now  occupy,  and  where  they  have  remained  ever  since." 
As  necessary  to  their  existence  and  comfort  as  their  native  soil— as  the 
light  or  the  waters— this  people  deem  the  buffalo.  They  live  upon  the 
flesh,  and,  finding  many  uses  for  every  part  of  the  body,  they  pay  the  animal 
the  highest  honors. 

Hunting,  next  to  war,  is  tho  most  noble  pursuit  in  the  estimation  of  the 
North  American  savage.     Through  the  dense  forest,  and  over  the  open 
prairie,  the  patient  hunter  occasionally  endures  the  utmost  toil  and  priva- 
tion.    At  times,  the  slowly  moving  bison,  in  endless  herds,  darkens  the  face 
of  the  plain ;  but  at  others,  not  one  is  to  be  seen  for  days,  and  then  the 
Indian  returns  to  his  family  mortified  and  disappointed !     Curing  nothing 
for  himself,  and  only  for  the  wife  and  the  little  ones  dependent  on  him,  he 
enters  the  lodge;  his  children  clamorously  greeting  him,  ask  for  food.     His 
wife  reads  his  dispirited  countenance,  and  while  she  endeavors  to  divert  the 
attention  of  their  children,  she  makes  every  effort  to  cheer  the  heart,  and  to 
relieve  the  fatigues  of  the  father.    He  excuses  himself  to  his  family :  "  I  have 
been  active  all  day,  but  the  Master  of  Life  has  prevented  me  from  killing 
any  game:  be  patient,  my  children,  and  I  may  bring  you  food  to-morrow." 


A 


124 


BUFFALO    CUASE. 


He  consoles  them  thus,  though  he  may  be  very  weary,  and  be  almost  faint- 
ing from  hunger. 

When  a  large  party  of  Indians  is  going  on  a  hunt,  a  council  is  held  to 
decide  as  to  the  movements  and  the  requisite  arrangements.  They  discuss 
all  day,  and  often  all  night,  such  subjects  as  will  induce  dreams,  from  which 
they  may  infer  omens  of  the  result  of  what  they  are  about  to  attempt. 
They  perform  severe  fasts  beforehand,  and  pray  to  the  Master  of  Life  to 
guide  and  make  them  successful.  A  favorable  dream  will  impart  vigor  to 
an  undertaking;  but  an  unpropitious  one  oftentimes  so  disconcerts  as  to 
induce  the  abandonment  of  an  enterprise  that  otherwise  promises  a  favorable 
termination. 

The  hunter  of  the  buffalo  must  be  cautious  to  keep  to  leeward,  lest  the 
wind  bear  to  the  animal  a  consciousness  of  his  presence;  for  nature  has 
endowed  the  brute  with  a  sense  of  smell  so  acute,  that  he  is  aware  when  the 
hunter  is  abroad,  though  he  may  be  distant  from  him  several  miles.     As  the 
chase  begins,  he  plunges  heavily  towards  the  most  uneven  ground,  and  while 
his  countenance  is  infuriated,  his  red  eyes  glaring  with  the  effort  to  outrun 
his  pursuer,  that  of  the  hunter  is  glowing  with  an  excitement  and  pleasure 
so  great  as  to  make  him  forgetful  of  every  peril.     As  the  steeds  bound  over 
the  broken  ground,  each  pursuer  selects  from  the  drove,  and  discharges  his 
bow  or  gun  again  and  again,  in  fast  succession,  at  the  ear  or  shoulder  of 
a  separate  victim,  until  its  fall,  or  the  flow  of  dark  blood  announces  a  death- 
stroke.     Should  a  party  come  suddenly  on  a  herd,  they  discharge  their 
arrows  at  the  same  moment,  and,  as  each  knows  his  own  shaft,  there  is 
rarely  any  difficulty  in  determining  to  Avhom  the  dead  animals  belong. 
Often  they  surround  a  herd,  driving  it  over  precipices,  where  they  seek,  and 
easily  dispatch  the  prey.     The  arrow  and  the  bullet  are  equally  destructive ; 
and  some  very  capital  hunters  use  a  long  lance  with  great  effect. 

In  the  spring,  the  buffaloes  frequently  attempt  in  a  body  to  cross  a  river 
on  ice,  that  lias  been  a  safe  pathway  for  months  before,  when  it  yields 
to  their  weight,  and  many  are  drowned.  The  floods  that  sweep  the  villages 
of  the  far  West,  also  dest  oy  vast  numbers.  Many  travelers  from  the 
Atlantic  States,  and  from  other  parts,  go  into  the  Indian  country  for  the 
pastime  of  the  hunt;  and  it  is  to  be  expected  from  the  fast  accumulating 
causes,  that,  before  many  years  have  gone  by,  the  buffalo  that  remain 
will  have  taken  refuge  in  the  ravines  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 


BUFFALO   CHASE. 


125 


When  a  large  party  of  Indians  is  out  hunting,  spies  are  sent  ahead, 
who  seek  elevated  positions,  and  by  means  of  signals,  inform  the  rest  of 
what  they  discover.  When  they  perceive  the  sign  to  advance,  they  ride  on 
rapidly  to  meet  those  who  first  went  forward.  There  is  a  good  deal  of  form 
in  their  reunion.  They  whisper  in  serious  tones  of  their  prospects;  they 
smoke,  and  offer  the  pipe  to  the  Great  Spirit,  saying:  "Thanks,  Master  of 
Life,  we  are  poor  and  hungry."  The  most  eloquent  of  the  hunters  takes  a 
prominent  position,  and  haranguing  the  people  in  a  low  voice,  alludes  with 
great  feeling  to  their  sufferings  and  their  patience,  and  concludes  with  a 
lively  picture  of  the  approaching  conflict,  prophesying  their  success  in  kill- 
ing, and  the  comfort  about  to  return  with  them  to  their  lodges.  Though  the 
snow  and  cold  should  make  all  desolate  without,  the  blazing  pine-knot  is  to 
lighten  joyful  faces,  as  seated  around  it,  the  family  listens  to  tales  of  the 
past,  from  the  lips  of  some  aged  friend. 

When  attacked,  the  monster  of  the  plain  gallops  slowly,  at  first;  but 
his  speed  quickens  as  he  warms  with  action,  and  his  huge,  unwieldy  frame 
comes  to  move  with  amazing  fleetness.  Then  let  the  hunter  beware  that 
his  horse  do  not  stumble  and  throw  him  to  the  earth;  for  the  buffalo, 
hearing  no  move  the  footfalls,  turns  and  proves  himself  an  unsparing  foe. 

When  a  herd  is  beset,  the  animals  run  closely  together;  the  cows  always 
in  the  advance,  as  they  are  the  more  fleet  of  foot;  and  if,  when  an  attack 
is  made,  they  and  the  males  are  apart,  the  latter  directly  join  them.  The 
roaring  of  the  running  animals— the  noise  of  fire-arms— the  whizzing  of 
arrows — the  clouds  of  dust  that  ascend  and  envelop  the  pursued  and  pur- 
suing, are  the  last  act  in  the  buffalo  chase. 

As  it  is  difficult  to  describe  the  extent,  fertility,  and  beauty  of  the  prairies 
of  the  West,  so  is  it  to  give  any  just  idea  of  the  buffaloes  that  graze  upon 
them.  The  Indian,  as  he  scans  their  numbers  from  day  to  day,  tries  to 
believe  that  they  will  ever  roam  where  the  Red-man  needs  them  for  his 
subsistence.  He  does  not  like  to  dwell  upon  the  thought  that  they  are  fast 
disappearing,  though  he  must  be  sensible  that  they  are.  To  his  mind  it 
may  portend  his  own  extermination. 

Hennepin  relates,  with  extravagant  delight,  his  impressions  of  Indian 
country,  especially  as  regards  its  being  so  well  supplied  with  game.  He 
watched  the  savages  as  they  hunted  the  bison,  setting  on  fire  the  dry  herbs 
about  them,  but  leaving  a  pathway  by  which  the  animals  would  attempt  to 


J^' 


A 


\^^ 


126 


BUFFALO   CHASE. 


escape,  that  they  might  be  encompassed  there  and  slain.     He  ate  with 
marvellous  appetite  the  juicy  flesh,  relishing  broth  made  of  the  blood,  the 
common  drink  of  the  Indians.     The  Jesuit  father  loved  to  follow  the  beaten 
trads  of  the  animals,  and  walk  in  the  forest  where  they  retired  to  rest  from 
the  heat  of  the  sun.     He  remarked  the  immense  droves  which,  at  the 
approach  of  winter,  set  forth  to  seek  a  more  genial  clime;  and  their  return 
with  the  spring,  when  it  became  to  him  «a  diverting  pastime  to  view  them 
in  herds,  of  many  hundred  each,  feeding  in  those  green  meadows."    He 
observed  how  the  hunter  pursued  only  the  wounded,  fearing  to  aifright 
the  useful  animal  from  the  country.     He  saw  the  women  as  they  painted 
the  skms,  working  them  in  the  stained  quills  of  the  porcupine;  and  with 
curious  interest  remarked  the  art  which  enabled  them,  without  salt    to 
preserve  the  meat  for  a  considerable  length  of  time.  ' 

Ho  asked  of  the  Indians  there,  "Who  made  the  heavens r'  «If  you 
have  seen  them,"  they  replied,  "you  must  know;  but  how  would  you  have 
us  speak  of  a  country  none  ever  visited  ?  Is  it  not  useless  to  ask  of  a  place 
so  high  above  our  heads  ?  You  may  go'to  your  gods,  mounting  up  to  their 
dwelling,  when  you  die,  but  we  do  not  go  there;  we  only  depart  to  the 
land  of  souls,  where,  with  our  arrows  and  bows,  we  will  still  chase  the 
buffalo. 


-A 


